Issue 1370

2010 BUCS CHAMPIONSHIPS COMMEMORATIVE EDITION INSIDE

REDBRICK

19th MARCH 2010 ISSUE 1370 VOL 74

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1936

www.redbrickonline.co.uk

Halls fees as expensive as London Redbrick's Glen Moutrie investigates accommodation fees – see Page 4 for full report

News

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Risky business; an update on the Guild bridge

Features

9

Gradball exclusive; act revealed in VPSAD interview

Lifestyle 12 Redress review; Uni fashion goes green

Travel A picture paints a thousand pounds Photo: Kemal Bagzibagli

Vice-Chancellor role earned £155k more than Gordon Brown last year Funmi Olutoye THE position of Vice-Chancellor at the University of Birmingham earned over £150,000 more than the Prime Minister last year, a Guardian inquiry has revealed this week.

Gordon Brown earned £197,000 plus pension whilst the University of Birmingham's Vice-Chancellor earnings, including pension, totalled £352,000 throughout the academic year 2008/09. The position was held by Professor Michael Sterling until April 2009, when Professor David Eastwood was appointed as his successor. This was revealed against the backdrop of serious cuts to university funding.

It has also emerged that other universities' VCs have had

their earnings tripled within the last decade. Last year, some saw their annual pay increased between 15 to 20 per cent.

Other than the VC, the University of Birmingham pays more than £100,000 each to a total of 96 staff members.

London School of Business has the highest paid VC, earning £474,000. A spokesperson for LSB said, 'The importance of this investment speaks for itself. The School is ranked number one in the world for its full-time MBA education and in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, it was awarded the highest average research score of any UK academic institution.'

Meanwhile for the VC of the University of Oxford, currently Prof. Andrew Hamilton, earnings have trebled since 1999. A

University of Oxford spokesman said in defence of the rise in salary that Oxford was 'the number one university in the country'. The top university also houses the highest-paid university employee, fund manager Sandra Robertson, who is paid £580,000 per year.

£352,000 The salary, including pension of the VC for the academic year 2008-09 President of the National Union of Students, Wes Streeting, said in response to the revelations: 'The fact they are giving themselves and other managers huge pay rises will raise questions about whether students' money is being well

spent.'

Chief executive of Universities UK, Nicola Dandridge, which represents Vice-Chancellors, described universities as 'highly complex businesses', adding that 'salaries of university heads in the UK are comparable with those in competitor countries and are also in line with remuneration packages for directors and chief executives of public and private organisations of a similar size.

As the role and importance of Higher Education have grown, so have the demands on the offices of Vice-Chancellors.'

When approached for a comment, the University explained that they do not comment on the details of any member of staff's salary or pension as a matter of course.

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Mini-breaks and day-tripping for the Easter break

2 News

This week...

Calendar

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

Bridge lorry yet Uni electricity to be removed wastage high

GMTG Termly Showcase Friday 19th March at 8pm in the Underground Tickets £5. email gmtg@guild.bham.ac.uk for more information.

Watch This presents The Scarlet Letter Friday 19th to Sunday 21st March in the Amos Room.

Tickets £5 for non-members. Performances at 7.30pm on 19th and 21st, 6pm on 20th. watchthis@guild. bham.ac.uk 3BUGS Fringe Theatre: Cloud Nine Monday 22nd, Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th March at 7.30pm in The Bristol Pear, Bristol Road, Selly Oak. Tickets £5. A hilarious and thought provoking play about gender, race, sex and all the confusion in between. Email fringe@guild.bham.ac.uk for details.

GMTG present 'The Last Five Years' Tuesday 23rd & Wednesday 24th March at 7.30pm in the Deb Hall. The Last Five Years is a musical telling the story of a relationship through sung monologue and music. Email gmtg@guild.bham.ac.uk for details.

Talk from Embarassing bodies presenters Wednesday 24th March, 7-9pm in the Business School.

Free entry. The TV doctors will be discussing the project to date, the move to live broadcasting online and the future plans for the series.

Chile Relief Football Match Friday 26th March 5-7pm (times subject to alteration) on the University Astroturf Pitches. Entry £5.00/person, teams of 8 people (6 players, 2 substitutes).

Jack Davis THE lorry currently wedged firmly underneath the footbridge which directly connects the Mermaid Square and Guild with the rest of the campus contains medical waste, although this is said not to be hazardous.

The view of the lorry has become a common sight for many students.

The incident which occurred in the early hours of the morning on Sunday 21st of February has become the source of much amusement, not least because the side of the lorry is emblazoned with the slogan 'Protecting People, Reducing Risk.'

A mere twenty-four hours after the accident there was a fan page on Facebook dedicated to the event. Now, the page has attracted over three thousand-five hundred fans.

Putting aside the amusement which shrouds it, a month on, Redbrick asks what has been done to rectify the situation which has become a major inconvenience.

The road which runs underneath the bridge has remained closed, forcing traffic to be diverted, and the footbridge which was frequently used as a shortcut remains unusable.

A structural assessment has confirmed worries that the lorry is in fact supporting the entire bridge structure, and without it the bridge would collapse. The Estates team are working in partnership with a structural engineer to design a temporary support for the bridge and work out how to most effectively carry out repairs.

The removal of the lorry is planned to take place within the next week or so.

Following this, the University hopes to have the footbridge and road re-opened at the end of March. All of this will be done with the use of temporary structural support and the bridge will not be fully repaired or replaced until an undetermined date later in the year.

Michael Furey AT a time when Higher Education institutions across the country are feeling the financial pinch, a recent study undertaken by students at the University has revealed the potential saving which could be made by ensuring lights are switched off overnight.

'The Charge of the Light Brigade', an independent student group, undertook research last week into the number of interior lights left on in campus buildings overnight.

An average of 600 lights were left on every night across the main Edgbaston campus, with an estimated cost to the University of over £30,000 per year.

The University spends over £10 million on energy every year. However, due to inefficient heating and lighting systems, large quantities of this energy is wasted, resulting in high levels of avoidable expenditure and preventable emission of green-

Picture of the week: Kemal Bagzibagli

house gases to the atmosphere.

One participant said: 'It is unbelievable that students are being asked to foot the bill for such unnecessary expenditure, especially at a time when Higher Education institutions are calling for increases in tuition fees as a prerequisite to maintaining educational standards.'

In the study, the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences was found to be the worst performer, with the Muirhead Tower and Haworth buildings identified as the consistently worst individual buildings, accounting for over 25 per cent of the overnight light usage.

The University Environmental Advisor, Trevor Shields, responded to these findings stating that: 'the University supports any initiative, such as 'Snapitoff' and 'Student Switch Off' that result in lower energy bills and carbon footprint'. However, he conceded that some lights may have been left on accidentally.

Police Warning SELLY Oak residents are being warned by police about a recent spate of robberies which have been targeting lone females walking home at night, particularly on or near Hubert Road.

They urge students to be wary when walking home, and not to use mobile phones or iPods as they walk.

The Police are working hard to apprehend the criminal, but remind everybody to be vigilant when walking in Selly Oak in the evenings.

The Guild's Vice President for Housing and Community, Ed Sparkes, stressed that crime has fallen dramatically in Selly Oak over the past few years, and added that: 'We now live in one of the safest cities in the UK. Let's keep it that way by not giving anyone the chance to easily take advantage of us.'

If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to contact the Community Wardens at community@ guild.bham.ac.uk, or Ed Sparkes at e.sparkes@ guild.bham.ac.uk.

The Worcester and Birmingham Canal.

Send your photos to pow@redbrickonline.co.uk

4 News

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

Halls fees: How does Birmingham compare?

Glen Moutrie AS applications open for 2010-11 places for University of Birmingham accommodation, the average cost of the options available to students stands at £130 per week – £113 when weighted against the number of rooms provided.

That is higher than student accommodation provided by Bristol, Manchester, Sheffield, Aston and UCL by as much as £26 (£1092 a year).

This average, over a 42-week lease, cannot be covered by the maximum possible student maintenance loan of £4950. Even in London, which is the only city where university loans can go over this value, the average weekly cost of accommodation is lower than Birmingham.

The cheapest accommodation provided by the University is Ashcroft Halls of Residence at £76.48 a week.

Yet the accommodation at the universities of Bristol, Aston and Manchester all provide cheaper options; with Bristol going as low as £58 per week, even though the average house price in Bristol is over £20k more than it is in Birmingham.

The University of Birmingham does have eleven choices for accommodation that fall under the £4950 ceiling.

Even here (with the exception of Sheffield and

UCL) each of the other examples provided more choices under the price, with Bristol providing a total of 40.

However, choice is only one of the issues.

The maintenance loan is supposed to cover not only accommodation but also other living expenses.

Even if students with a £4950 loan went to

Ashcroft halls of residence in Pritchatts Park, they would have a mere £41.38 to cover all other expenses per week.

It is possible that this is an issue that could turn prospective students away from applying to Birmingham.

There is no doubt that the University does cater for the more affluent students, with flats in

Shackleton available for undergraduates for as much as £9,920 for a 50 week lease.

The University has responded to Guild action in the past and has done much in recent years to improve the quality of accommodation.

Ed Sparkes, the incumbent Vice-President Housing and Community stated that: 'It's great that

we have a University committed to providing good quality accommodation but that there is still a while to go before we truly have a decent range of accommodation types and prices in order to suit all student needs and budgets' The University has taken some action by freezing the cheapest 15 per cent of prices for a

A comparison of costs of accommodation across six universities per week. Average cost relates to the average price of the choices, whereas the weight takes into account the quantity of rooms within them.

Graphic: Glen Moutrie

further two years.

Yet Birmingham's accommodation has the highest average costs, the most expensive 'low-cost' accommodation, and its cheapest accommodation is more expensive than five other universities of a similar standing.

Director of Hospitality and Accommodation Services, Stuart Richards, said: 'In our discussions with the Guild regarding accommodation fees for 2010-11 we took due note of the view that we need to offer accommodation at a range of price points which enables those who might wish to come to Birmingham to be able to do so.'

He added: 'We have reduced the price of accommodation at Ashcroft and frozen the price at Maple Bank – out two lowest price options and furthermore given an undertaking to freeze these two prices for two more years subject to inflation remaining broadly at today's level.

We will continue to structure our fees to create a broad base to reflect the undergraduate profile.

We have invested heavily in creating high quality student accommodation and continue to invest significantly in maintaining that standard and we are proud of the experience which students living in our accommodation enjoy.'

Israeli ambassador speaks to University Ben Rider ON Thursday 11th March, Ms Talya Lador-Fresher, the Israeli ambassador to the UK, visited the University of Birmingham to deliver a talk on 'The Hopes and Challenges for Peace in the Middle East'.

The event which was put on by the University's Jewish Society attracted the attendance of more than 120 students and members of staff.

There was heightened security at the event and many late-comers were turned away at the door.

Yet the few empty seats did nothing to reduce the audience's anticipation for the Ambassador's address.

After a brief introduction, Ms Talya LadorFresher talked for thirty minutes outlining the Israeli perspective on the peace process in the Middle East; this was followed by thirty minutes of questions put to the Israeli state official from

the audience.

Rachel Rogers who attended the event said: 'It was interesting to hear about the Middle East conflict from someone who

works in the thick of it, rather than hearing the opinions of people who are not directly affected by the Israel/Palestine events.

However I am not sure how useful these one-sided talks are when it comes to easing campus tensions.'

The deputy

Ambassador delivered a passionate talk and tackled most of the questions adequately. However not all answers received the refined sensitivity that

perhaps was required.

In particular, a question that asked about the opportunities for Palestinian children could have been handled with greater delicacy.

The Israeli definition of the situation in the Gaza strip was also contested in the questions and answers period.

A member of the audience said that a recent EU publication classifies the conditions as a 'Humanitarian Crisis'.

This seemingly contradicted the Israeli position claiming there is no humanitarian crisis.

The Ambassador's main emphasis that there is hope for a two state solution if bilateral negotiations and Palestinian unity prevails, was well received amongst the audience.

COMMENT Aron Lewis and Yoni Amias, page 6 >>

Protests outside the Muirhead Tower Photo: Pete Blakemore

News

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

High speed rail links approved by Adonis Anna Brown LAST week, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis revealed plans to build a new high speed rail link between London and Birmingham.

The Government propose that work will begin in 2017 at the earliest, and will only be started once the public has been consulted on the route.

Lord Adonis said that the views of communities along the route would be sought in the planning stage.

The new */route would travel between London Euston and Birmingham's Curzon Street stations, with plans under consideration for a

future extension into the north of England. This extension would have two branches, one running to Sheffield and Leeds and the other to Liverpool and Manchester.

The rail link could see travel time between London and Birmingham reduced to just 46 minutes, a significant improvement upon current times. Network Rail said that the high-speed rail project could 'drive economic growth and boost jobs', a sentiment Lord Adonis agreed with when he stated that the rail link would create 10,000 jobs and yield £2 profit for every £1 spent.

The rail link to Birmingham would cost between £15.8 billion and

Travel to London in 46 mins Photo: Peter Griffith

£17.4 billion, with the addition of the Y-shaped extension taking the cost to an estimated £30 billion.

The opposition parties are also committed, in principle, to a high speed rail service, but shadow transport secretary Teresa Villiers said that the Conservatives would not be prepared to 'blindly accept' the proposed route.

The environmental impact of the proposed link has concerned some activists. Patrick Begg, director for the National Trust's Thames and Solent region, said the proposed route could cause 'serious and significant impacts on the landscape of the Chilterns. We're taking a keen interest in how these impacts have been considered and assessed, particularly exploring the Government's proposals for mitigating against these impacts through design and tunnelling.'

Passenger Focus chief executive Anthony Smith welcomed 'the commitment that the new line will be an addition to the current network – not a bolt-on rich man's railway' and thought the proposals could 'revolutionise inter-city travel'.

UCB lecturer News caught peeping Briefs Anna Brown A HIGHLY respected lecturer at University College Birmingham planted a spy camera in a bathroom to watch female students shower, it was revealed last week.

Teaching business studies at UCB, Paul Powen Hwang also rented property to students of the college, where he hid the camera in an air freshener in the bathroom of the house occupied solely by female students.

The academic, who has studied and taught at the world's top universities, had directed the device at the shower.

A shocked tenant said she only realised the camera was there after noticing that the air freshener appeared to be 'following her around the bathroom'.

Hwang was hired by University College Birmingham to teach business to higher and further education students, but the 33 year-old quit his post four months ago after his crime was discovered. In October 2009, a young female student taking a shower in the property in Ladywood, Birmingham, noticed a

gap in the wall where the air freshener was placed and appeared to be moving, directed at the shower cubicle. Later she noticed that the suspicious air freshener had disappeared.

A few days later the same woman saw the air freshener had reappeared and was again moving from side to side. She dismantled the object and discovered the hidden equipment – a digital camera connected to a battery.

She immediately called West Midlands Police and Hwang was arrested the same day.

Hwang pleaded guilty on February 9th to voyeurism, and is due to be sentenced next week at Birmingham Crown Court.

Hwang, who is an Australian national, has both studied and taught at Harvard University in America and Sydney University in his native Australia. He has been in the UK since 2005.

He obtained an MA degree in Business Management Research from Oxford and was a PhD Researcher at Cambridge University.

UCB have yet to make a statement.

Employers criticise Labour 50% target Funmi Olutoye LABOUR'S aim for 50 per cent of young people to attend university has diminished standards and devalued degrees, top graduate employers have said last week.

The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), which represents many blue-chip companies in the UK, called for the Government to aim for 'quality over quantity'.

In a manifesto published last week, AGR propose that an end should be brought to the attempts of bringing more under 30s into higher education.

They say such aims have 'driven down standards and devalued the currency of a degree and damaged the quality of the university experience'.

The 50 per cent target appeared in the 2001 Labour manifesto but had been changed to working towards that mark by 2010. Currently 400,000 more students attend university in comparison to 1997.

AGR believe that many graduate employers are no longer confident in the value of degree courses.

Carl Gilleard, the chief executive of AGR said, 'There's a sense among employers that some of the candidates who apply for their positions are clearly not up to the standard they are looking for'.

The report argues that the degree classification system of firsts, 2.1s, 2.2s and thirds has 'outgrown its usefulness' because it does not give a wholesome depiction of graduates' achievements whilst at university. They say employers are looking for

graduates with employability skills in conjunction with academic achievements. Instead they support an introduction of the Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR) which will enable employers to 'make a more informed judgment about a graduate's overall performance'.

The association proposes that top-up fees, which currently stand at £3,225, should not only be increased but should be limitless by 2020 – leaving universities to

dictate the costs for different courses. In light of this proposal, AGR argues that a national savings scheme should be established to help families prepare for the financial costs that life in higher education brings.

Safeguards should be put in place for families who come from disadvantaged backgrounds to maintain the attitude that university places should be based on merit rather than income, AGR said.

However, the University and College

Top Employers argue that degrees have been devalued. Photo: Kimberley Faria

Union (UCU), which represents lecturers and academics, are unhappy with AGR's proposals.

Sally Hunt, the general secretary of UCU, said: 'The future for the UK is at the forefront of a highskilled knowledge economy and we won't get there with less graduates. The main beneficiaries of higher education have been identified as the state, the individual and the employer, yet only two of them are picking up the bill. It is time that businesses started to make a proper contribution to university funding, instead of parroting its siren calls to increase the debt of students and the burden on hardworking families struggling in tough economic times'.

Other proposals include embedding employability skills in degree courses at all institutions, introducing tax breaks for employers who recruit graduates who are entering work for the first time.

AGR include graduate employers such as the Bank of England, Goldman Sachs and GlaxoSmithKline and employ around 30,000 graduates a year.

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OXFORD CHANCELLOR: TUITION FEES TOO LOW LORD Patten, the Chancellor of the University of Oxford has said that current levels of tuition fees are 'preposterously' low.

Patten, who was the last Governor of Hong Kong and is the former Chairman of the Conservative Party, has said that tuition fees must rise if British univesities are to remain globally competitive.

He said: 'It is preposterous that we can only charge for teaching an undergraduate less than half the cost that those who do that teaching would have to pay for creche facilities for their own children.'

Last month universities were asked to make savings of £449 million for the next academic year.

TWO TEENAGERS DIE AFTER TAKING MEPHEDRONE TWO teenagers have died after taking the legal drug mephedrone.

It is believed the drug contributed to the deaths of Louis Wainwright and Nicholas Smith on Monday night.

The drug, which comes in white or yellow powder form, is used as an alternative to ecstasy.

The deaths have led to renewed calls for the drug to made illegal.

Mephedrone was made a class-C drug in Jersey in December.

CLEGG ADDRESSES LIB DEMS IN BIRMINGHAM NICK Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, has told party activists that he is not 'the kingmaker.'

His comments come in light of recent opinion polls, which have suggested that neither the Tories nor Labour will win enough seats to form a governing majority. If there is a hung parliament, the Lib Dems would have to decide which party they would form a coalition government with.

CRUFTS 2010 On Sunday, a Hungarian Vizsla won Crufts for the first time since its inception. The competition took place at the NEC Birmingham.

Yogi, 7, beat six other finalists and emerged victorious over 22,000 dogs across 187 breeds.

Chief judge, Valerie Foss, remarked: 'He is such a lovely mover; so powerful; so free.'

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Comment

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

Features

Middle Eastern Politics in the West Midlands Aron Lewis and Yoni Amias, former Jewish Society Chairs, say choosing affiliations on campus is not always black and white CHOOSING affiliations between a Zionist Coloniser or a Palestinian Terrorist is the extreme extent of the polarisation on our campus today. Students at the University of Birmingham are continuously pushed into one of these two supposed camps. When it comes to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict there are two clear factions; one campaigns for Palestinian rights, the other for solidarity with Israel.

Thousands of miles from the conflict itself, on a campus in the West Midlands, tensions are replicated through a counter play of speeches, protests and petitions. Both sides pursue their own one-sided struggles. By lending their support to absolutist agendas in the Middle East from the safety of their university residence, many of us approach the conflict with little consideration for the other side.

Attitudes of a large number of British students are often far more entrenched and extreme than Israeli and Palestinian university students hold themselves.

Within the Jewish So-

ciety, Friends of Palestine and other associated groups, there is pressure to conform to a set of views. The expectation is not that everyone should hold homogenous opinions but that they should fall within clearly defined

to try to consider different beliefs, challenge our own, recognise ourselves in the 'other' and try to find consensus in areas where we might agree.

If here in Birmingham we can't understand and communicate with each

The area of controversy Photo: Peter Griffith parameters.

It would be, for example, highly frowned upon if a member of the Jewish Society subscribed to the Friends of Palestine. Why? Because a Jew who sympathises

History THE conflict exists because the two nations call one piece of land their own.

Palestinian Nationalism and Jewish Zionism have been clashing over the right to self-determination, statehood and justice for over 100 years.

Beginning with communal clashes between Jews and Palestinians living in British ruled Palestine, struggles intensified into an interstate war between Israel (founded in 1948) and the Arab states.

The 1948-1949 war became known as the 'War of Independence' for the Israelis and 'The Catastrophe' for the Arabs.

This war consisted of massacres, raids, bloodshed, displacements and resulted in hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees fleeing into

with the Palestinian cause 'would only be giving fuel to the enemy'. But we ask you, who are the enemies here?

There are a set of ideas and a heap of selfperpetuating discourses of what constitutes be-

neighbouring Arab lands.

Wars have continued ever since including: 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, 2006; alongside other confrontational clashes: Retribution Operations, Black September in Jordan, Operation Litani, Southern Lebanon, First Intifada, Gulf War, Al-Aqsa Intifada and the Gaza War. Over the decades the conflict has only intensified in violence. UN resolutions, Accords, and Settlements have all been jeopardised by continuous breeches and an atmosphere of belligerence.

Both societies have had to live with this harsh and violent reality, which strongly impinges on their everyday existence.

longing, and what defines the outsider. Remaining loyal to 'the cause' is seen as central to one's identity within the society. For those members of the Palestinian society that seek dialogue with supporters of Israel, there are others who will accuse them of 'selling out'.

This experience is not unique to university campuses; relations between British Muslim and Jewish communities are arguably at their lowest. The lack of trust and dialogue between these faith groups can be largely attributed to a conflict thousands of miles eastwards. Most Muslims and Jews will sympathize with narratives from a very polarised upbringing. Our own was characterised by pro-Israeli rhetoric. It wasn't anti-Palestinian as such, but the suffering of the other side was simply ignored in favour of misguided patriotism. Our Muslim friends report a similar one sided scenario.

Our campus lacks a constructive approach.

Rather than point the finger of blame, we ought

other, with the privilege of exposure to different viewpoints, how can we expect those in the Middle East to come to a solution?

We shouldn't be afraid to stand for what we believe, with the fear of being marginalised by our own communities. Universities ought to provide a space for students to freely express themselves and partake in the sharing of ideas. Unfortunately with regards to the Israel-Palestine conflict, Birmingham's campus has yet to reflect these values.

The conflict on campus, and in the Middle East too, needs a human face. Every person caught up in the cycle of violence and retribution is just another human being – no different to any student at our University.

How are we to overcome the polarisation that exists on our campus? We suggest holding debates, joint events and inter-committee dialogue, which can lead to an altering in the 'us' and 'them' perceptions that too many students hold.

Clocking Off Comment and Features Editorial Seb Mann explains why you shouldn't sit on the fence... about sitting on the fence

I WILL make the argument of this editorial clear from the start: sitting on the fence has got a bad reputation, which it doesn't deserve.

Now before you give up on what I admit looks self-righteous and probably quite dull, consider this: if you give up on this now, and render the opinion that this isn't worth reading, you will effectively be jumping off the fence.

Perhaps you should stay firmly seated for now…

I appreciate that the direction in which this editorial is going must sound a little obscure – why would a Comment and Features section editor be so foolish as to advocate an opinionless existence? So I feel I should thus add that I have a great deal of respect for polemics and don't bear a huge amount of disdain for the opinionated. The impetus for my position is derived from the sad fact that I am a bit of a coward. If, by coming down on one side of 'the fence' there is a chance, a tiny modicum of risk, that I will upset someone or make myself look bad, I will err on the side of caution. I will remain, decisively and absolutely, on the fence.

Whoever came up with the phrase which describes this condition obviously did not agree with me. Part of the reason why this agreeable condition has such a bad reputation derives from the image the term evokes. It is a misleading metaphor. As far as I believe that metaphorically sitting on the fence is a safe and comfortable position to be in, I don't, by any degree, see why anyone

would want to literally sit on a fence. Such trellis-based tomfoolery, I expect, is quite uncomfortable and dangerous, not to mention genetically hazardous. Why anyone would use such an unfair metaphor to describe such a blissful condition I do not know.

The other article on this page, rightly occupying more space on the page than this, is perhaps a most apt example of a situation in which individuals are forced to, almost literally, come down on one side of the fence. This, it seems, is a very real example of a situation in which sitting on the fence would be a far more preferable alternative. It doesn't stop here though; we see unnecessary conflict everywhere. Religious differences are pervasive and colour our cultural environment – and yet, these differences breed animosity.

Perhaps I'm just another youthful idealist who wouldn't look out of place in another selfrighteous Band Aid revival but is an outlook of tolerance and common sense really so hard to come by?

And, as paradoxical as it sounds, this is what's important here.

Sitting on the fence isn't about having no opinions, or about letting other people make decisions while you perch, docile, and watch. It's more than that: it's about being sensible. By all means, have opinions, but sit on the fence first. You'll notice that from up there you can see much more of what's on either side.

Comment & Features

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2009

'Sugar Daddy' bursary Funmi Olutoye argues that there's nothing sweet about an emerging form of student funding TO say that students are strapped for cash would be putting it mildly. The average student debt in the UK is around £16,000.

It does not look pretty when you put it on paper does it? So how far would a student go to avoid this debt or even to clear it?

Forget winning the lottery or robbing a bank.

Welcome to dating meets money. Welcome to the world of the Sugar Daddy.

A friend of mine and I were recently having a conversation about our

ever-expanding internet makes finding a Sugar Daddy only four clicks away: Google, website, upload photo, finish.

There are hundreds of these niche dating websites that specifically invite young women to meet the Sugar Daddies that can turn their life around after just one date. Some boldly state that they target 'struggling students'.

However, it does not stop there. There are even reviews that discuss which are the best sites to sign

Champagne receptions or sinister deceptions?

Photo: Katrina Hartley financial worries as students and the methods that we could possibly undertake to overcome them. Imagine my excitement when I heard her say she had the perfect solution. Now, imagine my amazement when she told me 'a Sugar Daddy'.

What is a Sugar Daddy? They are men, usually of a significantly older age, who shower attractive young women with money and gifts in exchange for companionship, love or even sex.

The promise of free cash, gifts and trips abroad in exchange for mere companionship is OK right?

Wrong. 'Companionship' for money sounds awfully familiar – dare I say – to Prostitution.

With increasing tuition fees and rising living expenses for students, having a Sugar Daddy is worryingly becoming a new source of income for the female student in the UK. However, what is more worrying is how easy it is to access this world. Sugar Daddies may not be a new invention but the websites that promote the phenomenon are. The

up to and blogs which comment on and further promote them. TheSugarDaddyBlog.com simplifies the process of bagging a Sugar Daddy in five easy steps: Clean up, Shape up, Go out, Join clubs and Use your resources. The last step specifically encourages the use of such websites if one is not able to bag one in real life. Worst

dents about this new method of income and received mixed reviews. A final year English student described the process as 'just weird', while a 1st year Law student said 'if both parties benefit – why not?'. Stephanie Lai, 2nd year Medicine, said 'As a medic, I have five years worth of debt after I leave university, but something like this just would not cross my mind. It seems immoral'.

But what is so immoral about getting free stuff? These men know exactly what they are doing. They are wealthy and have partners but cannot resist a quick fix of someone who looks like how their wives used to.

In other words, they prey on some females' weaknesses for the lusts of life or financial burdens to relieve themselves of their own sexual burdens.

Although a life of no debt and unlimited gifts may be pleasing to the ear and candy for the eye for the average student, one must bear in mind the dangers that surround such an arrangement. A) This person is still just a profile on the internet – you do not know them. Whatever is on the profile is what they have allowed you to see. B) Such a process is reserved for the 'Pretty Girl' or at least the ones who can afford to 'Clean up, Shape up and Go out' – this works wonders for female self-esteem! In a world where people die from the pressures of looking good, why would someone want to embark on such a journey that could kill their selfesteem? C) A lot of these men are married, have a family or are in a relationship – imagine your own father being involved in such an arrangement. It

'Having a Sugar Daddy is worryingly becoming a new source of income for the female student' of all, these websites have been featured in the mass media. I even saw a billboard of one whilst driving on the M25!

The websites themselves range in their approaches to this phenomenon. Some advocate that a true relationship can blossom out of the arrangement whilst the name of others leaves little to the imagination: 'golddiggers. uk.com'.

I asked some stu-

can potentially destroy marriages and families.

Call me old-fashioned but part-time work at Joe's Bar is good enough for me.

After all, there are thousands of us graduating with debt, what makes me any different? No amount of student-debt should reduce a woman to selling her body. Looks like you'll be seeing me in Job Zone pretty soon.

In Brief

7

A cheesy sentence Caroline Mortimer TWO weeks ago, a man in California was sentenced to eight years for stealing a bag of grated cheese.

Robert Ferguson, who has a thirty-year history of burglary and other offences would have been sentenced to life imprisonment under the absurd 'three strikes law' had it not been for a psychological evaluation that deemed his bipolar disorder mitigating as he was unable to control his compulsion to steal.

A life sentence for stealing cheese? Although this happened in California, parallels can be seen in Britain and our absurd notions of crime and punishment. In my personal opinion, I believe that people should only

be incarcerated if they are a threat to the public.

Prison should be about rehabilitation as well as punishment because ultimately what matters is that whatever crime a person has committed, they never commit again. Right wing commentators be-

£2 billion

spent every year on incarcerating individuals lieve in a system of 'locking away miscreants and throwing away the key' rather than actually trying to reform people who have done wrong.

However we must face facts, there isn't enough room. Our prisons are overcrowded as are California's, while California

is bankrupt and Britain is approximately £101bn in debt. Think of how much money it costs to keep a prisoner each year. If they haven't committed a dangerous crime wouldn't it be better for them to remain on the outside repaying society via community service, repaying debts in fraud cases and remaining a part of society through rehabilitation? This will prevent them from experiencing the dehumanising and alienating affects that prison has and will hopefully make reoffending less likely. It will save millions of pounds each year and will give people who get in trouble once a chance to redeem themselves rather than forever being ostracised from society.

Off on the wrong Foot?

Andrew Peck I MOURNED Michael Foot's passing as the end of an era of humans in politics.

The former leader of the Labour Party is warmly remembered despite leading his party in 1983 to the worst electoral defeat since 1918. But it is how he lost that makes him admirable.

Foot was renowned for his bohemian eccentricity; long wild white hair, NHS glasses and excitedly waving his walking stick in the air. His manifestos were the beliefs of a true left-wing intellectual, not a career politician: nuclear disarmament, abolishing the House of Lords and

higher personal taxation.

An electoral liability, perhaps, but the man had character, he was human.

Today we have election-winning machines. Last year I almost bumped into George Osborne while reporting on a speech of his. Despite being only feet away I caught only a glimpse; the man being surrounded by an entourage of aides managing his every action 'Sit there, shake his hand, not his hand...'

They are all image-managed like this and have inevitably managed the upcoming televised debates. 72 conditions were hammered out by the parties' respective spin doctors, regarding when who gets to speak about what,

who stands where, which camera angles and more.

Debate? I've seen TV dramas with less planning and scripting.

Can we then be blamed for our apathy when real personalities have morphed into bland humanoid vote-winning

13 years

The length of Foot's Labour leadership machines? It is for this reason I mark Michael Foot's passing, his election chances may have been harmed by his eccentric personality, but at least he had one.

A Peri-Peri profession Victoria Bull WORKING up The Sunday Times' recent list of 'The Best 25 Big Companies to Work For', some familiar names seem fairly placed – for example British Gas at number 22, Boots at 15.

The names of these deeprooted British businesses immediately acquire our admiration, and the sheer magnitude of financial giants Morgan Stanley UK and Goldman Sachs (at numbers 14 and 2, respectively) is enough to command our respect.

First position, however, went to none of these highly regarded institutions. In fact, it was handed to none other than the awe-inspiring, well-loved, enormously esteemed…

Nando's. Oh.

Not only was the Portugese chicken merchant named THE best big company to work for in 2010, but inescapable fast-food chain McDonald's also received its third 'Best Place to Work in Hospitality' award earlier this year.

Everyone knows being asked 'Would you like fries with that?' in McDonald's is almost as pointless as posing the question 'Do you serve anything other than chicken?' in Nando's, but – considering their credentials as good employers – should we drop the stigma we seem to have attached to the fastfood industry and consider getting ourselves a McJob? McDonald's UK reportedly invests £30m in training each year and, surprisingly, is the coun-

try's largest apprenticeship provider. Nando's scored highest in three of The Sunday Times' ranking categories and the company's HR director, Julia Claydon, told Times Online: 'We want managers who believe that their restaurant will succeed because they look after their staff'.

It seems that both Nando's and McDonald's have broken the stereotypical representation of high-street eateries by providing credible job opportunities, fair standards of work and pay, and Supersizing™ the benefits offered to their employees. And, considering it is a brand-new entry to The Sunday Times' list, Nando's' current merits, it would seem, are just for starters…

8 Comment & Features

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th March 2010

Warwick's Think Tank tackles Europe Stephanie Harvey and Phil Hughes give us the lowdown on the Warwick Think Tank summit

What is the Warwick Think Tank?

EVENTS such as Warwick University's Think Tank talk are incredibly important to student politics.

In contrast with previous generations, university students are often characterised as politically ignorant and lazy, so opportunities such as this for students to engage with important issues and to publicly debate with experts in the field, are a welcome break from the stereotype.

It does this by actively engaging students with policies which can often seem abstract or out of our hands; how many of us ever truly stop and think about the effects of international students on our experience at Birmingham (never mind the wider British university system), or reflect on our

membership of the EU and how this affects our relationships with our European neighbours? All too often we're bombarded with tabloid headlines which present us with a distorted and often untrue picture of Britain's relationship with people from other countries, so the opportunity for thought-provoking debate and discussion which really gets to the core of the issue can only be a good thing.

This is especially true in an election year, where the issue of Europe and Britain's higher education system are both subjects of intense debate and scrutiny. The debate brought together multidisciplinary experts to talk about immigration and the impact of internation-

al students at universities, and whether an expanded EU could unite European identity and integration.

The IPPR, one of the most influential think tanks in British politics, believes in 'fairness, democracy, sustainability and functions independently of political divides'. The two main areas of research concern citizens, society and economy and global change.

Think tanks such as IPPR are fundamental to progressive change as they interpret the world afresh, applying values to new problems and generating new thinking and proposals for change. The 21st century is an era of globalisation and change – whilst the Government is still at the centre of organising society it no lon-

International Students ger monopolises. As society changes, Think tanks play a bigger role due to the complexity of the new challenges that are generated; and the government alone cannot come up with all the solutions regarding this complex society.

Think tanks help bridge the gap between theory and practice, academics and policy makers. The current context for today's research and debates involves major questions over the future of the liberal market, new threats to international security, climate change, the mixed successes of labours reforms to public services and a lack of a clear sense of how to achieve change – what the 'effective state' looks like.

Would you fly the flag for Europe? Photo: hounddog32 from Flickr

Identity and Integration CITIZENSHIP, identity and integration: can an expanded European Union unite?

It seems clearly defined boundaries for Europe are primarily required, but the questions arise – what exactly does 'European' mean and can one only subscribe if one is a member of the EU? The 'Euro-barometer' – a series of polls regarding public opinion of the EU – has revealed an astonishing level of Euro-scepticism. The polls revealed only 5 per cent of EU countries felt 'European', reflecting the difficulty in having common values when so much historically and culturally is different.

There is a tremendous effort required by politicians to reverse the current level of Euro-scepticism.

Owen Parker, formerly of the EU Commission, highlighted that it depends on what we think of as 'citizenship' and 'identity'.

This leads us to question – could EU expansion lead to the erosion of national identity? Or in fact would it involve the embracing of multiple identities and cultures, something which is already somewhat achieved?

Economical, political factors, as well as keeping with EU law, all frame the criteria for EU membership. Greville Warwick, of the British Independence Party, presented a more thoroughly negative impression of EU expansion and unity, claiming that whilst it had originally stood for trade and business, its attempts to unify were simply 'pulling everyone together when we were all too different to ever work together'.

But Stephen Booth, of Open Europe, provided what seemed a more balanced and positive impression of the EU's future if it could decide on common, realistic goals. Just

as a multi cultural Britain has rapidly learnt and is learning to integrate and unite, so can the EU. The EU need to unite in its goal – what exactly is the European dream? If it is based on a 'united identity' then it may be near impossible to achieve unity – how can 27 very different countries unite with one identity? However if the EU is based on strategic interest it is more viable and realistic that integration will remain beneficial. But it is imperative the EU does not attempt to be a federal state – 'the United States of Europe' – because we are simply too diverse in linguistics and culture.

Professor Karen Henderson from Leicester University Politics Department revealed the problem of integrating Eastern and Central European countries – 'They involve postCommunist countries that are unused to democracy

and are rife with corruption. This will mix badly with growing Nationalist and Populace movements in particular, and could even finish the EU off.'

So should the UK withdraw from the EU or should it reform? The EU is Britain's biggest trading block, but being forced to share common laws such as same working hours is unnecessary and somewhat hindering. The question is whether the benefits outweigh the costs.

Withdrawal would leave the UK isolated; as it has far less power and influence in the 21st century, particularly in regards to the USA, it needs the alliance, trade and support of the other EU countries. As was outlined by Stephen Booth, it seems a focus on strategic integration rather than a culturally 'united Europe' is required for a successful future and further expansion of the EU.

THE first debate of the Think Tank talk was looking at the role of international students in the UK university system. It's a hot topic nationally, and with this in mind the panel began the discussion by answering the question 'Do British universities attract too many international students?'

IPPR at Warwick had assembled a formidable panel of speakers, including Lord Young from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. He stated that non-EU students contributed well over £1 billion in fees, making them vital for British universities. He also added that Britain was currently the second most popular destination for international students, and argued that the government encouraged international students because they improved relations with other countries and boosted the image of the UK abroad. James Kennedy, from Warwick University's International Office, also emphasized the cultural benefits of international students, arguing that they improved understanding of different peoples and cultures.

However, he also warned that in light of UCAS figures which showed a 23 per cent increase in applications over the last year alone, international students shouldn't be seen as a 'money earner' to 'balance the books'.

Next to speak was Professor Vincent Emery from University College London. He argued that one of the keys to UCL's success was international

students, and this is why UCL had one of the highest concentrations of international students in the UK, at 36 per cent. He added that whilst he supported the presence of international students, universities had to prevent 'ghettoisation' and make sure that they fully participate with the British students and do not remain exclusively within groups of their own nationality. Tim Finch, head of Immigration at IPPR, was the most upbeat of the speakers; though he acknowledged the danger of bogus colleges and abuse of student visas, he added that students who had come to the UK were a huge asset to both our educational system and Britain's reputation overseas.

During the Q&A session, I asked Lord Young whether he felt the UK was doing enough to encourage British students to go abroad and participate in exchange programs. He answered that although there was 'reluctance' from some universities and students, it was definitely something which could be further encouraged.

Professor Emery added that one answer might be the re-introduction of language requirements for university applicants, an interesting solution to the problem.

Overall, I felt the debate was an interesting and open minded examination of the issues facing international students, and made a refreshing change from the usual scepticism and hostility which is normally a feature of immigration debates.

British opinion in the 2008 European Elections

75%

5%

40%

25%

Didn't know when the

upcoming elections were

claimed to be satisfied with the democracy of the EU

20%

Said they didn't want Britain to be part of the EU

Were not interested in even knowing

said that they have trust in the EU

27%

Want the EU to have a more dominant role

9 The end is nigh – a campus celebration

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

Comment & Features

As the rumour mill surrounding Gradball gets going, Samina Amin grills Guild Officer Emma Packham on the questions students want answered WHEN I first heard that Gradball was going to be on campus, I have to say that I was a little disappointed and not very impressed. So when I interviewed Emma Packham, Vice President Student Activities and Development, I asked her the questions that you want the answers to.

Why has the Gradball venue changed and why will it now be on campus?

The decision was taken by a previous sabbatical officer team that the Gradball should be back on campus. We're working extremely hard to make it even better than Coombe Abbey, without the inconvenience of travelling 40 minutes to a field where it gets dark quickly and students feel no connection with the site. When students think about their time at the University of Birmingham, many feel strongly towards the campus, it sometimes being the deciding factor in coming here. Campus should be where we celebrate the end of this time, or even the end of the academic year, however with a fun fair, marquees, an outdoor stage and thousands

of students dressed to impress, this will be campus as you have never seen it before!

So how will it work, will every final year be able to get a ticket?

We normally sell around 2,500, however we have capacity for 4,000

students on campus.

Many students enjoy having the choice of menu and intimate setting with

close friends that local restaurants can offer, so by being back on campus we are making this option more available for students, whilst still being

very accessible and close to many students' homes.

We had the option to make the Gradball a 'Summer Ball', as many other University's do, however we felt it was important at the University of Birmingham to keep an element special for graduates. As dinner seating has been reduced, we have reserved this especially for graduates, however students of any year are able to come along to the after-dinner party, and after-party at the Guild. There is even a pre-party at the Guild before the after-dinner party starts. We feel students have much more choice this year in taking part in the bits they really want to go to.

Is it true that it is more expensive than last year?

Dinner tickets are the same price as last year.

We have shared site costs of previous Gradballs with Warwick University, however, now we are going solo we have to cover all these costs ourselves.

The money we have saved on transport has gone directly on the costs of food on campus, which is more expensive than previous external cater-

ers. The food is going to be much better though, and cooked on site rather than being transported to a field. Gradball has to break even, but is not budgeted to make a profit. If any profit was made, this would go straight back into the Guild to fund all the student services we provide.

But won't everyone want to be in the Great Hall for the dinner, how are you going to make it fair?

Dinner tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis to make it fair for everyone. The Dinner tickets are across two

but of an equal value, which gives students more choice than ever before.

How will you ensure everything goes to plan on the day?

We have been working closely with our Events Co-ordinator, who is experienced in organising large events and university balls, the University and the local Council to make sure that everything is perfect for the day and all areas have been considered. The event is risk assessed and the area will be secure to ensure only students with tickets can come onto campus.

'I can exclusively reveal that we have confirmed Brit Award winner Ellie Goulding to perform.' locations, the Great Hall and the Noble Room, Staff House to ensure we can seat as many students as possible. Ideally we would want one large venue for everyone, however there isn't the space for this, and would be even more expensive. The two locations will create completely different events; different menus and themes,

Finally, any exclusive gossip for us?

This Gradball promises to be absolutely spectacular, and I can exclusively reveal that we have confirmed Brit Award winner Ellie Goulding to perform. We also have another big act confirmed that will be revealed in due course.

Student politics part 3: The Liberal Democrats Edward Paton-Williams talks to Will Mieville-Hawkins, the president of the Liberal Democrat society about the upcoming national elections LAST week, I met with Will Mieville-Hawkins, the President of the Liberal Democrats society, to discuss their policies in the lead-up to the general election.

What five policies best sum up the Liberal Democrats?

1. Cut income tax for those on low and middle incomes by £700 to financially support poorer households.

2. Undying commitment to a fairer, proportional representation electoral system that means everyone's vote actually counts.

3. Develop a greener, more sustainable economy, with more investment in sustainable jobs.

4. Reduce class sizes in state schools from an average of 27 to 20 in primary schools and from 25 to 17 in secondary schools, because education is hugely important and Labour has neglected schools.

5. Phase out tuition fees over six years to reduce inequalities in university entry and the bur-

den of debt on students.

The Liberal Democrat policy of scrapping tuition fees has changed to a phasing out of tuition fees over 6 years.

Are they still the party to represent student interests?

The policy is still in place. A Liberal Democrat government would still do away with university tuition fees. We have ideals but we don't live in an ideal world. Labour's mismanagement of spending means that the money isn't there. Over time though, we would achieve these ideals. As a serious party, we have to be able to afford any policies which we campaign on and reducing government spending is crucial in the next couple of years.

Where do the Liberal Democrats stand today on British involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Well firstly, we were the only major party to oppose the invasion of Iraq. We never should

have been there and when we did go in there was a lot of suffering based on lies about weapons of mass destruction. There needs to be a gradual pull out in a controlled way to ensure the Iraqi security services can police the country effectively. And on Afghanistan, I don't think anyone truly knows what the correct strategy for Afghanistan is. The important thing is that now our armed forces are involved in these wars, we need high investment in equipment in the short term to achieve any sort of longer-term peace and begin the rebuilding process.

There are huge security risks with ID cards in that identity fraud would be much more likely. We've recently seen how careless Government officials are with sensitive data by leaving laptops on trains and so on. If that information were to be used by criminals or terrorists it would be a disaster.

What marks the Liberal Democrats out from the other major political parties' societies on campus?

We actually go out and campaign and raise awareness on issues in a way other parties just don't do.

Going out onto the streets of Selly Oak and handing out leaflets makes a real

Recent opinion polls suggest no party will gain an overall majority at the election and the Liberal Democrats may be the 'kingmakers' of the next government. How do you view that possibility?

It would be presumptuous to make broad statements about what's going to happen in the election.

No one really knows what will happen at the election. The electorate will decide who wins power.

In my view though, most grassroots Liberal Democrat members would rather see a coalition between the Liberal Democrats and Labour than David Cameron as Prime Minister and the Conservatives in power.

How do the Liberal Democrats view the potential introduction of ID cards?

I don't see any need for ID cards. We already have passports and driving licences which are enough anyway. There would be an inherent suspicion of everyone that they had done something wrong and governments should not know every detail of our personal lives.

difference to understanding of important topics such as Afghanistan, tuition fees, climate change and the tax system. Students have the potential to make a massive impact on elections if they vote together to reject policies such as tuition fees.

Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat leader Photo: www. wycombelibdems.org.uk

10 Comment & Features

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

Lane's domain

Redbrick meets: Simon Reeve

Tom Lane is let loose on the city of Birmingham

Stephanie Jenner chats to the prominent adventure journalist about travel, politics and his new BBC programme, The Tropic of Cancer

HERE'S a story that you may be able to relate to.

Last week, after it had occurred to me that the last time I'd done any exercise there were leaves on the trees and Jedward were but a harmless irrelevance on the Dublin talent show scene, I agreed to join my housemate for a leisurely cycle down the canal. During one of our frequent pauses, we were overtaken by a walker with a vigorous stride and a half-crazed expression. As he passed he glanced at us, and, a little like a train conductor announcing the next station, shouted the single word 'Insanity!'

The reason I say you might relate to this is because characters of this sort seem to exist in such glorious abundance in Birmingham.

Take as a case in point Selly Oak's very own The Goose, a veritable seat of such lunacy. Any time you see two people standing together at the bar it's as likely that each will be conversing with thin air as with the other. My favourite Goose encounter took place on Saturday lunchtime last week with a man as far-flung from the real world as you could ever care to meet.

His appearance gave every indication of him not having left the pub since the previous night at the very least and in all likelihood sometime before Christmas. He had apparently dedicated his day to explaining to the room at large (including much of its furniture) precisely why Home Before Dark by Neil Diamond was the greatest work of musical genius ever created.

His arguments never got very far and whenever someone asked him to elucidate them, he became confused and started muttering elaborate nothings about Fabio Capello's hair.

After an hour or so of this, we decided to humour the guy by playing the track on the pub's jukebox. When it came on he displayed no sign of recognition and continued to incoherently berate an alarmed looking couple for having no knowledge of Neil Diamond.

Quite why you see so much of this in Birmingham is a mystery, but it's hard to deny that it enhances the fabric of an otherwise colourless and decaying place. It is no exaggeration to call this a city fallen on hard

times. Did you know that of the five constituencies with the highest unemployment rates in the UK, four are in Birmingham? And it's not just the recession – these areas have been struggling for years.

Sometimes, as happened to me on our cycling trip, your eyes can be suddenly opened to the true extent of Birmingham's destituteness – and the reality strikes you hard. Once you leave behind the route through Edgbaston to the city centre, past Brindley Place and on to Aston and Erdington, the canal quickly opens out onto scenes of squalor. Many of the buildings are literally crumbling, while mountains of debris lie unattended on the waterway's banks. I was strongly reminded of the time I'd visited Albania, except for the fact that Albania had nice weather.

And, now that we no longer have a mainstream left-wing party, it's not clear who the citizens of these deprived areas have to turn to. Say what you like about Margaret Thatcher curing the 'British disease' and making our economy once again dynamic, but there is no question that one of her legacies has been the decrease in equality and social mobility to have taken place year on year for the last three decades.

But enough political diatribe. I'm sure you get to hear plenty of that these days, and anyway I'd like to tell you about Spaghetti Junction, where we eventually came chugging to a halt. It is a marvellously monstrous sight, not least from below, built as it is on a stagnant underworld – a kind of Venice of sewage. Behind a shopping mall, it is probably Birmingham's second best known landmark; and perhaps it was this sad truth, along with the muscle cramps, that encouraged us we'd cycled far enough. We heaved our bikes up to the next high street and asked an old man where the nearest train station was.

He gave us the same wild-eyed gaze that we'd been treated to once already that afternoon, and shouted: 'The Nurses Training Centre!

T'on earth you want to go there for?' Poor Birmingham – a forgotten gem, full of such

So your new programme, Tropic of Cancer, is coming out in the next few weeks. Are you excited?

'I AM quite excited, actually, yeah, like any big project it's quite good to get it done and out there.

Get it over with, in a way.

We finished the journey in December, we got back 2 days before Christmas, and it all feels very current – it's not something we've kept on the shelf for months and months.

I'm quite looking forward to it going out there, getting it over with, and then getting some DIY done that's been put off for two years.'

A lot of your work has a definite political angle to it. You seem very interested in highlighting to people in this country what's going on in other countries.

'There's a very strong environmental focus to this new series, Tropic of Cancer, but I think the political side of it is something that we're very keen to explore. Personally I think that understanding more about a country that you're visiting makes for a richer, more rewarding journey through the country – it just makes it more interesting. And that's the same whether you're backpacking, whether

es. So going to the airport and getting on a plane and then getting off at the other end – that's become fairly standard. But the world is an extraordinarily rich and varied place.

There's not a day, not a single day, on the Tropic of Cancer when I wasn't being confronted by new sights, new sounds and new smells and new stories. So it was an entirely fresh and amazing experience, every single day, every single time.'

But what you do isn't just normal travel. What is it about you that makes these people and these countries open up to you?

'I think it's probably the TV cameras. In the rest of the world there's more of a respect and there's more of an acknowledgement about the importance of the media and TV crews, because most countries in the world don't have I'm a Celebrity…-type programmes. They are still engaged in a quite desperate struggle to establish democracy and rule of law and a normal, functioning society. They recognise that the media have a role to play in that, and they're very pleased and often quite proud that the BBC has turned up to film in their country. Sometimes, though, doors close be-

BBC press release photo you're going on a package holiday or whether you're going there to work. Your money can be used for people's benefit as well as detriment and you have a responsibility, in a way, to know about where your hard-earned cash is going and what sort of country you're giving money to.'

You've visited over 70 countries in the last six years, aren't you bored of travelling yet?

'No, not at all!'

It hasn't become normalised for you?

'I suppose the bit that's become normalised is the process of getting to plac-

cause we're from the BBC. When we were travelling around the Tropic of Cancer, China, for example, effectively refused us access. Quite amazing, really, when you consider that China is becoming one of the most powerful countries in the world. Most of what I do, a 'normal' traveller could do as well, and there's certainly been times when we've turned up to film something, whether it's been a mine clearance programme in Mozambique which uses giant rats to sniff out the mines, or when we were in Bopar, in India, filming in the slums there – on those two occasions there's been foreign backpackers who had just turned up to try

and find more about what was going on in that situation, and the local people had completely welcomed them. The organisations that were running the projects had been very keen for these travellers to come and have a look and see what was going on, because people can then report back and tell their friends at university and home what they'd seen.'

wouldn't allow us and we were going to try all we could to get in, regardless of whether that was breaking Burmese law or not.

So out of all of these amazing experiences, do you have a favourite memory?

'Travelling around the Tropic of Cancer there's one experience that stands out: travelling illegally, or covertly, into Burma. We went overland on foot from a very remote part of East India into a very remote part of Burma – the BBC is banned from Burma – so the only way to follow the [Tropic of Cancer] was to do in covertly. We travelled for days and days to get to the remote area of India where we could walk across, and then there was a river border between the two countries, which we crossed using a makeshift village zipline from one side to the other. We had a lot of adventures, it was a very frightening and scary experience because we were going into an area where there were more than 50 Burmese military bases, and if we'd been caught by the Burmese army or Burmese patrol then it would have been pretty catastrophic really.

But we were deliberately going into an area of the Chin ethnic people and we were trying to highlight the suffering that's inflicted on them by the Burmese military. There was a very strong reason why we were there, and it was very frightening and scary, and memorable as a result.'

You just freely admitted to breaking another country's laws. Do you not have any regrets over having to do that?

'I have regrets that we had to do it, but I don't have regrets over having done it. I'm not going to lose any sleep over breaking the law in Burma. When we took on the challenge of filming this part of the idea was that we would take the risk and go to places that are a little bit dangerous and are a little bit risky, whether is was driving through minefields in Western Sahara or Mauritania, or it was going out on a road with the Mexican SWAT team, we took on that challenge.

We knew that Burma

BBC press release photo Burma is a military dictatorship, it's one of the most repressive regimes on the planet and I don't think that our moral obligation to obey the rules of that country are the same as obeying the rules of Mexico, for example, a functioning democracy.'

Thanks, that's everything I wanted to ask. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

'It's very difficult to get current affairs issues and international current affairs, so stories from Bangladesh, or from Mauritania, or South-East Asia, or from far-flung countries – it's very hard to get those kinds of issues on to prime-time television. This type of series is an attempt to do that – to blend travel with current affairs. So, yes I have an adventure, and yes viewers get to see me eating strange food and being beaten up by a female Mexican wrestler and things like that, but there's still lots of issues packed into the series and I hope that your readers will find the issues interesting and important and relevant to their lives. We cover lots of issues that are affecting people on a global scale, like climate change, and we see that playing out not through the work of scientists, but through local people, tribal people on the ground who are now saying to me on my journey, “We don't know anything about this 'climate change' that you talk about, but we know that our climate is changing and we know that our ancestors have no record of their being a drought like this, or of rains like this” – they know that things are changing, they know their world is changing, and that was one of the stand-out features of this journey, that people kept saying that to us.'

Editorial

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

11

REDBRICK EDITORIAL

Please send all letters to letters@redbrickonline.co.uk. Letters/emails for publication must be marked 'for publication' and include your name and course title. Letters without these details will not be published. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Jonathan Gilbert THIS time last year, sipping maté around the table of a typically warm and welcoming Argentinean family home in Tucumán, capital city of the South American country's garden state and site of its independence, the Sunday afternoon conversation drifted from one familiar topic to the next.

Argentineans are perceived, particularly by their continental neighbours, to be an arrogant, self-indulgent bunch.

Stereotypes are, however, often absurd and it is a shame that a small percentage of overly zealous, abrasive Porteños – the name for those citizens from Buenos Aires – should have so negatively influenced popular opinion of one of the most amiable peoples this writer has ever encountered.

There is a uniting characteristic of the Argentine nation; pride. From the state-neglected residents of its coastal capital's villas miserias (shanty towns), and the wealthier, rather prickly personalities of the city's more affluent areas, to the gauchos (cowboys) of the country's productive interior, national pride is an inspirational and impervious foundation of the Argentinean populace.

Marcos, the eldest sibling of the family, left the room temporarily and returned with a large, hardback book; The Falklands: Album of the Campaign. His father, now a high ranking army general, had fought in the war against the British in 1982.

A strange addition to a thoroughly cordial atmosphere but an ample demonstration of how the Falklands War irreparably damaged Argentinean pride.

The pain of losing, and of loss, has percolated through generations and, nearly

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If you are interested in running for a committee position please email editor@redbrickonline.co.uk.

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Samuel Lear news@redbrickonline.co.uk Features Editors Seb Mann Rosa McMahon Jude Hill features@redbrickonline.co.uk Lifestyle Editors Jessica Geary Alex Beard lifestyle@redbrickonline.co.uk

Multimedia Editor Dan Southall

Film Editors Alex Jacques Rosie Willmot film@redbrickonline.co.uk

News Editors Ned Murray Helen Crane

Music Editors Erica Vernon Alex Spencer

music@redbrickonline.co.uk Arts & Culture Editors Sian Gray Sam Langtree arts@redbrickonline.co.uk Travel Editors James Bunting James Cull Ed Gordon travel@redbrickonline.co.uk Television Editors Natalie Timmins Joe McGrath tv@redbrickonline.co.uk Sport Editors Tom Clarke Ben Whitelaw Simon Hall

To the Editor, Your article 'Climate Change: True or False?' 5th March, presented a very one sided view of Climate Change and its public perception in the UK. No-one, especially students, should be in any doubt that anthropogenic climate change is happening. There may be the odd few scientists who have presented arguments and data dismissing this, but the majority of the scientific community agrees that climate change is happening, and more importantly due to human causes. As the secretary general of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon said at a recent conference in New York: 'Let me be clear – the threat posed by climate change is real.'

Are students at the University of Birmingham really not smart enough to read through the newspaper headlines which dismiss man-made climate change?

A very important point to note is the

30 years on, the war plays an important role in defining national identity.

The Argentinean invasion of the Falkland Islands was instigated by the country's military junta, which had hoped to quell widespread discontent of its failing and repressive rule and galvanise Argentina in a wave of patriotism.

Thatcher's decisive response was unexpected and, within three months, the poorly-equipped, poorly-trained Argentinean forces had been defeated, ironically hastening the junta's downfall and its eventual relinquishment of power, only a year later, in 1983.

The junta may have lost the support of the nation but the Falkland Islands did not. Argentineans continue to refer to them as Las Malvinas Argentinas – the Argentinean Falklands. Furthermore, their government also claims sovereignty over the South Atlantic archipelago.

The UK's current search for oil in disputed waters surrounding the Islands has thus hit Argentina where it hurts most, disrupting the racy flow of its society's streams of pride. In colonial times, the land that is today Argentina witnessed tonnes of silver – mined in the Bolivian Andes – sail through its meandering River Plate. The riches were destined for the Spanish Crown. Today, it seems likely that valuable assets will again be stripped from a helpless Argentina's nearby territories.

Whilst the British left the Falklands victorious, and with but a third of the casualties of their opposition, the war has left the Argentinean nation deeply cut.

Offshore explorations for the post-colonial world's most sought after of natural resources – black gold – are rubbing sea salt into an unhealed, gaping wound.

Deep-rooted Argentinean national pride is once more at stake. link between climate change and poverty. Climate change (man-made or not) is going to affect the poorest people in the poorest parts of the world, and funds are required for their adaptation. We have already seen the human impacts of climate change in cases such as the 2003 heat wave in northern Europe, and a change in seasonal variation of rainfall in Indonesia, resulting in widespread hunger; climate change is a global issue and its effects are felt differently by people in different parts of the work.

Your article has cherry picked and misrepresented quotes to form the basis of the argument; post-Copenhagen, as much support as possible is required to mitigate against climate change in the student community as well as to ensure the right decisions are made on a global level, preventing rises above the 2 degree safe limit of warming.

Yours Sincerely, Lincoln Smith (Treasurer Oxfam Outreach Society) View full letter: redbrickonline.co.uk

James Phillips sport@redbrickonline.co.uk

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Redbrick strives to uphold the NUJ Code of Conduct. The views expressed in Redbrick do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Guild or the publishers. If you find an error of fact in our pages, please write to the Editor. Our policy is to correct mistakes promptly in print and to apologise where appropriate. We reserve the right to edit any article, letter or email submitted for publication.

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12 Lifestyle

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

Catwalk: Redress Fashion Show I'M sure you've all heard about the Redress vintage fashion show that took place in the Great Hall last week, and for those that missed it, I'll give you a cheeky overview.

The show was run jointly by the Oxfam and People and Planet societies, who are keen to send a message to students about the problems pervading developing countries.

Photo: Kimberley Faria The main issue surrounding poverty in poorer countries is the exploitation of labour and the unfair wages that they receive. Those behind the fashion show and the Fair Trade fortnight want to make students understand where their clothes are coming from and the production process that is keeping many developing country citizens in a poverty trap.

This argument is encompassed by the slogan 'make fashion transparent', which was shown

on the catwalk to end the show.

The show itself was a mixture of singing, dancing and fashion, and I had the opportunity to help backs t a g e w i t h t h e c a t walk show.

From speaking to some of the people involved, Rachael Twumasi, Sam Lewis, Gemma Bending and Jenny Vaughan, it is clear that there is a growing interest among students about Fair Trade and the surrounding issues.

The show was cleverly designed to reveal the serious message behind fashion, and how it can be overcome by giving a little more thought into where we purchase our clothing.

The show included items from the Emma Watson collection for People Tree and many of the garments were made from recycled materials by one of the organisers

of the event, Sam Lewis. There

Julia Whiting takes a look behind the scenes were four collections: Nautical, Fit and Fashionable, Broad Street and

Summer in the 80s.

The Nautical collection included the classic navy striped sailor dresses, blazers and knitted jumpers, which can be dressed up or down for almost any occasion.

Most of the Emma Watson pieces were inspired by the nautical trend.

Fit and Fashionable was a more casual, laid back collection which included hoodies, t-shirts and other items which could be termed as 'student chic'.

Broad Street was more formal, including outfits that may be worn on a night out in Birmingham, and Summer in the '80s was very vibrant and inspired by colours and textures. This collection included many of the

Photo: Kimberley Faria

Courtesy of:

Photo: Kimberley Faria handmade garments.

The models were all from the University, scouted by the organisers of the event. If you feel strongly about any of these issues and want to get involved, the Oxfam and People and Planet societies are always looking for new and motivated members to help spread the message.

Lifestyle

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010 Goodbye from Jessica Geary GOODBYES are always hard. No goodbye will be as hard as leaving Redbrick, or more specifically, my beautiful co-editor Alex Beard. Alex and I have been through a lot together, from being extremely nervous wallflowers in the office to the bulshy, exceedingly irritating roses we have blossomed into. Particularly fond memories I will take with me on my journey through 'real-life' are having to tell Alex off everytime she nearly falls off a chair (everyday), and our frankly amazing fending off of 'anti–Lifestyle banter'.

Has editing this section made me hungry for a journalistic world of downing coffee and shameless office flirting?

No. But, it has taught me to be patient and that wearing deoderant in the office is an absolute must... we may be Lifestyle but sweat patches have never been in. So adieu 'to yuh and yuh and yuh' and to my coveted post as Editor – what on earth will take up my time now?! Take up fencing? Casual binge drinking? Who knows but whatever I decide to do it will be sure to involve something scintilatingly fabulous but I genuinely believe I will never be as fabulous as I am with Beard sat next to me shouting at my spelling errors.

Bye (off to actually get a degree).

Issue: Girl Talk – Women's Association have their say

Lil' Wayne – His going to prison is like Elvis joining the army.

Jessica Geary MY CO-EDITOR Alex and I have a rather volatile relationship with the Women's Association thanks to our resident playboy Bloke de Brum's slightly unsavoury antics. So when I was asked to go along to their talk called 'Sex and Beauty' last week I was a tad uneasy, but not half as anxious as my very brave boyfriend who got dragged along for the experience. My presumption was that it was going to be a room full of bra-burning, men-hating feminists with pictures of Germaine Greer on their shapeless cover-ups, the prodigal daughter of anything 'feminine' strolling into a gender-blending lion's den. It's safe to say the complete opposite was the case. The room was indeed full but seated around a rectangle of tables were perched about 50 women and 4 men who all looked like 'normal', relaxed, intelligent students primed for the intellectually stimulating debate that ensued. There were three speakers who offered up the food for thought in the shape of Suraya Sidhu Singh – editor of the fabulously unique Filament Magazine – Dr Charlotte Ross and Dr Giovanni Porfido both from the Italian Department. Between these three colourful and genuinely engaging speakers, they provided us with a 'cut-the-crap' debate of

Chinos – With the sun out, it's a great time to crack these bad boys out.

Picnicking on campus – It's never too early to start, especially with the daffodils coming out.

Being brave – Always thought that girl sitting across from you in your seminar was cute? Take initiative and talk to her!

whether women are liberated in the 21st Century media. The answer to this was ultimately no, not really... but neither are men.

One of the few boys in the debate interestingly said that men are made to feel just as stupid in the media eye as women are made to feel objectified, using the example of the horrifically sexist 'Oven Pride' advert with the tag-line that has evoked over 700 complaints: 'so easy even a man can do it'.

Media as a term opened the floor to a myriad of possibilities of critique, but there was one I knew would come up... the one I was dreading. It was only a matter of time before Women's Association hate-figure 'Bloke de Brum' cropped up in the debate and I could feel myself dying a little inside. Blokey, along with other media such as magazine advertising, were discussed in relation to 'the male gaze' or put simply, how men want to see women. From the male gaze women of-

ten judge what men see as sexually attractive, that's why it was so refreshing to casually flick through Suraya's magazine with a whole section dedicated to 'the female gaze'...or as she put it 'looking at hot dudes.' It was concluded on the whole that a plethora of influences, primarily the media and culture, have dictated our perceptions of beauty and sexuality, which we may think we all know and ignore but when was the last time you bought clothes, makeup, taken a picture for the enjoyment of the opposite sex? We all do it all of the time and will continue to until media representations of women change.

So after a bit of skillful Bloke de Brum defending, an hour and a half flew past and left me wanting more of the intellectual and provocative debate I had just been immersed in. It's safe to say I will be coming back to the Women's Association talks more often!

Debate: The Last taboo?

Rob Lewis and Rebecca Bray tackle the delicate issue of abortion For (Lewis): nancies ends in abortion, Against (Bray): ation in question involves I AM pro-abortion, as is 76 per cent of the UK population according to Abortion Rights UK, but as science and philosophy continue to grapple with the notion of when a life begins and the ethics of abortion remain hotly controversial, I am pretty sure my opinion will simply pale into insignificance. As someone who will never experience pregnancy (good thing, I have the pain threshold of a kitten) I would always ask the question, whose life is it anyway? Women should have the power to choose and to ultimately shape their lives safe in the knowledge that society is liberated enough not to judge.

A swift termination at the hands of a professional has to be better than being born to a mother who doesn't actually want you or is unable to care for you. In that sense abortion doesn't ruin lives, it saves them, although I am not advocating abortion as contraception. Admittedly, I am quite shocked that one in five UK preg-

but I suppose that is testament to the ongoing need for adequate education and liberal abortion legislation.

Surely, it is a matter of individual choice whether to terminate a pregnancy. The ethics of abortion become more complex as the foetus develops only adding to the personal, social and economic factors influencing a women's decision, but ending a pregnancy twelve weeks into gestation has to be more moral than possibly ruining the lives of the mother and the resulting child. Maybe then, abortion can be an act of motherly love.

Fierce

13

ABORTION is murder. But first thing's first, I'm not advocating the notion of forcing women to have children they simply do not want. The inevitable result of that would be to give an innocent child a horrible, unloving life.

Nor am I anti-choice, of course, women have the right to choose if and when they have children.

What I strongly disagree with though, is the use of abortion as an alternative means of contraception.

So many women have unprotected sex, without thinking of the consequences and when they discover they are pregnant, the immediately obvious solution for them is to have an abortion.

Yet, since I believe life begins at conception, what they are effectively doing is killing. If such women found themselves in awkward situations with other people in their daily lives, would their solution be to murder whoever had annoyed them? I doubt it.

But people do not seem to hesitate when the situ-

a foetus, regardless of the fact that it is still life, whether living inside or outside the womb. Perhaps it is due to the UK's increasingly embarrassing statistic of producing the most teenage pregnancies in Europe that has led to

'Abortion is murder.' the appearance of abortion as being more easily accessible; it is, after all, a more attractive solution, enabling us to avoid the awkward contraception conversations we fear, but ultimately, abortion should be the last resort, when in actual fact, for many women, it is the first. Of course, there are horrible exceptional circumstances, such as the traumatic experience of rape, yet for the majority of women, they are simply unprepared and unthinking. When there are so many couples who are unable to have children, what gives us the right to 'play' God?

The vest/hoody/shirt combo – Great for wearing round campus, or on a night out to combat the chills...

Surfer rock – This summer is all about that psychy low-fi vibe with bands like Girls, Animal Collective and Washed Out on the break-through.

Gemma Arterton – The English rose is hotter than ever with a sleuth of films coming out.

Jessica Geary – Yes this is narcissistic but this is the last issue that our darling Jess will be doing as Lifestyle editor and she deserves to be heralded as the sexy little thing she is. We will all miss you.

Guild Awards – £10 for a meal, free booze and beautiful aesthetics, and that's not just the Redbrick boys.

This is the place to be on Sunday night.

Finished Oversized sunglasses – The insect-eyed look has long since passed, so put away the huge glasses and opt for a subtler pair in time for the summer.

Jacob from Twilight – Yes we can admit he does look a lot better in the New Moon film (amazing what a haircut and a protein shake can do) but let's remember that he is only 17, and not get TOO gooey-eyed every time his name is mentioned.

Internet dating – We'd rather meet someone in the REAL world. Yes. Because genuine men/women don't hide behind their email accounts, or shop for a partner the way one would pick up groceries.

Dark and dull colours – With Spring very much on the way, it's time to put away those wintery clothes and prepare for a stylish colourful wardrobe.

Gothic makeup – You are not Dracula, you do not need to look like him. Lay off the heavy eye makeup and choose a more natural look.

Low rise jeans – If we didn't ask to see your underwear, take the hint and wear a belt. Enough said.

Facebook's 'Oops something went wrong' message – Stop changing the layout, and work on improving the service.

Jessica Geary – Because techincally she is finished as Lifestyle Editor. An era, or the 'Gera' as some call it, has come to an end.

Crazy unseasonal attire – yes the sun has finally shown, it's fine, but that does not mean it's time to wear a sundress and flip-flops... it's still 5 degrees!

Sam Langtree and Danielle Fox

Website of the week: postsecret.blogspot.com.

A Sunday morning guilty pleasure. Get involved in this world wide art phenomenon where people (sometimes slightly disturbed people) send in their most intimate secrets on a postcard.

14 Lifestyle

REDBRICK 1370 /19th MARCH 2010

An Apple a Day

Mephedrone – a legal high?

Campus Couture Welcome to our brand spanking new feature, Campus Couture. Lifestyle are here to relieve your fashion cravings and capture all you sexy young things strutting your stuff around Campus.

Lifestyle Editor Alex Beard and photographer Katrina Hartley have been hounding the UoB pavements this week and just look at some of the beautiful creatures caught on camera.

Briony Singh Mephedrone, also known as 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) 'meow meow' or MMCAT is the newest, cheapest, and most accessible amphetamine to hit the streets in recent years.

Its popularity, which has exploded in night club culture over the past two years, has seen it been dubbed 'the new party drug.'

Its properties are similar to that of ecstasy and is said to give the user an instant high, with increased sense of euphoria, boosted confidence and bundles of energy.

And in reality, that's all we know about it. I tried pooling sources from the internet to research the drug, but apart from the odd article on 'legal highs' there really is nothing except forums and user's ex-

'ultimate trip'.

They have lists of legal online suppliers which are mostly gardening websites, although some seem rather dubiously masquerading as such to keep the backs covered.

They even give details of the cost: 'from £12 to £15 for a single gram online to £30+ in a club where it's probably cut to s**t and underweight, dropping to £6 per gram if bought in volume.'

Now, this seems to be the crux of Mephedrone's popularity; its purity. If bought online in its pure form of industrial strength plant fertiliser (how appealing) it is said to be of the highest quality in comparison to ecstasy, coke and MDMA. However, it seems that many are under the illusion that because it is purer, it is safer. And this is the biggest misconception.

'Reported side effects are heart palpitations, nausea, headaches, blue limbs, loss of feeling in limbs, and severe paranoia.' periences to go on.

Long term effects are completely unknown; although a recent study by psychiatrists at Glasgow's Stobhill Hospital tested the drug on a 'young professional man' who took it for 18 months. By the end of this experiment he had become completely dependent upon the drug, to the point of being hospitalised for his paranoia and hallucinations.

Governmental research into the drug is currently being carried out, but other than that no official assessment of the drug has been made.

This has lead to a huge increase in online shops selling the drug. Certain websites sell the drug in bulk; one in particular repudiates any arguments put forward against Mephedrone and denies any negative effects it is 'claimed' to have.

It seems that if anyone was curious about trying Meph, they would be pleasantly reassured by these sites that there have been no deaths associated with the drug (which is untrue, there have been a number of deaths from across Europe due to overdoses) and champions Mephedrone as the

Due to its strength overdosing is easier because users are unaware of its potency. I have numerous student mates that frequently use Mephedrone on nights out, and have witnessed the results.

One of the larger side effects is that it prevents you from eating and sleeping, seeing a good friend drop two dress sizes in a few weeks, with a gaunt face and zombielike countenance is terrifying. Other effects are heart palpitations, nausea, headaches, blue limbs, loss of feeling in limbs and severe paranoia.

It seems that our lack of knowledge of the drug is causing a serious rise in users. It is accessible, cheap and the high is apparently amazing. But the compulsion to top up after an hour or so seems to be common practice, and after copious use doses are doubled up to have the same effect.

It seems many are reliant upon Mephedrone to make their night one to remember. To this statement, I quote a friend of mine: 'You need to take Meph to have a good night out? Serious personality failure.'

Nev Briars 2nd Year African Development Studies Student Bag: vintage Jacket: charity shop Style Icon: Ewan McGregor

Emma Karlsson 2nd Year Eng/French Student All clothes from Swedish brand Monky Bag: Vintage Fave shop: Monky

Stephen Hutton 2nd Year Ancient History Jacket: Charity Shop Scarf: Next Style Icon: Morrisey Fave shop: Charity shops and H&M

Miriam Al-Sayed 2nd Year Italian student Playsuit: Dorothy Perkins Fave shop: Primark and Dorothy Perkins Fave item of clothing: joggers

Culture: High Spirits?

Varun Anand Who am I? Why do we exist? What is the meaning of life? These are questions that are rarely (if ever) taught in schools and universities and remain somewhat taboo in our culture. Surely it is these questions that we must discuss and debate the answers to, be they religiously based or not.

We should form our own opinions on these core issues of life, before embarking on a degree, a job or a career, otherwise what's the point of it all?

It's easier said than done though!

Spirituality, although often expressed through religion, is a broader concept meaning different

things to different people.

It's often said to involve a relationship with a 'higher being' but also encompasses anything that gives ultimate meaning in life. So it's not always expressed in a religious way and you can be spiritual without being religious.

Students are at a time in their life when their spirituality can be easily altered. Being away from home for the first time in a new environment, surrounded by people of different faiths and backgrounds, being influenced by peer groups and societies and not to mention the university drinking culture, can all be a bit too much sometimes.

University has certainly altered my outlook on life

and made me more interested in issues to do with spirituality.

I'm a medical student currently doing a 1 year intercalated public health degree. My research project is on, 'The relationship between spirituality, health and life satisfaction of undergraduate students in the UK'. Recently, there has been an accumu-

' A study in 2009 showed that adults with more of a sense of meaning and purpose in life had fewer physical and mental health problems and higher levels of well-being' lating body of scientific evidence linking religion with improved health.

Therefore, as spirituality is a related construct, more and more literature is slowly emerging in this field.

A study in 2009 showed that adults with more of a sense of meaning and purpose in life had fewer physical and mental health problems and higher levels of wellbeing. College students in the USA with higher mean spirituality scores reported better overall physical health and higher levels

of life satisfaction. Those with lower spirituality smoked more tobacco and consumed more alcohol.

However, there is very little data from the UK, especially amongst students with most of the literature coming from a US JudeoChristian perspective. The currently ongoing study is the first of its kind in the UK. As the University of Birmingham is a multicultural establishment, it provides the perfect platform to explore student spirituality in a different setting.

Students from eight randomly selected courses have received an email or WebCT post with a link to complete a short online questionnaire. There is a prize draw for all questionnaires with 1st prize being a £50 Bullring Gift Card and 2nd prize being a £30 Waterstone's Voucher! The courses selected are: Music, Ancient History, Accounting and Finance, International Business, Dentistry, Psychology, Chemical Engineering and Electronic Engineering. So if you are an undergraduate on one of these courses please check your inbox. The survey will not be active online for long so don't miss out! More info: vxa684@ bham.ac.uk.

16 Film

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

Opening Credits

Alex Jacques & Rosie Willmot OK, everybody take a deep breath and try to contain your excitement: the teaser trailer for the third installment in the Twilight series, Eclipse, is finally online. I didn't hunt this down, as much as I'd love to be one of those people who has a complete knowledge of the inner thoughts of an under-sexed 'novelist' and the storylines she has inflicted upon an already over-sexed nation of teenage girls; little things like a vague sense of dignity and a degree on the home straight tend to hold me back from the abyss of hardcore Cullen-itis. No, I heard this from the brash, vapid embarrassment to modern broadcast journalism that is Fearne 'look at me' Cotton. So anyway, I watched the trailer, and believe it or not, managed to contain my excitement. It's getting to the

point in the story now where there are no feelings that haven't been melodramatically revealed in a rainstorm, and the resultant lack of suspense comes together in what appears to be an extended episode of Hollyoaks, but with less blood-sucking. Don't get me wrong, I'll be right on the bandwagon when it comes out, goggling at the screen and happy as a clam, but for now, I'll remain scathing.

This week, we have a review of that film by that guy that did Taxi Driver from Matt Davis, and reviews of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Blind Side and Green Zone below. A villainous Top Ten follows that from Genevieve Taylor, while Izzy Sanders justifies the existence of musicals, and Rachael Hewison remembers Tim Burton's Mars Attacks! Read on, dear friends, and go online for more...

Film of the Week

Shutter Island has Matt Davis wanting a super cool hat

Director: Martin Scorsese Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley Cert: 15 Displaying chilling fragments of psychotic paranoia, Shutter Island punctures apprehensive theatre screens with an imaginative and rip-roaring new Scorsese genre. A production that strays poles apart from the director's inextinguishable gangster legacy, suspense is the firestarter here, and Scorsese's creation drizzles a plot of

trepidation to an audience jittery on the script's fishhooks. It is 1954 and the location is Ashecliffe Hospital, a stormy mental asylum that bleeds the traits of gothic Victorianism. Adapted by Laeta Kalogridi from Dennis Lehane's novel, Shutter Island is a cinematic feature designed to stretch the imaginations of audiences.

Towering walls tangled with electric cables are designed to imprison and block the escape of the patients, who all possess murderous heritage.

With a strong hurricane imminent, U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and composed partner Chuck Aule (Ruffalo) are shipped to the island to investigate the ominous mystery surrounding the disappearance of Rachel Solando, a schizophrenic inmate locked up for drowning her own children.

The theatrics promptly begin as the officers step cautiously onto the sinister island.

Shutter Island is drenched with film-noir and stylish trench coats, and heavy rifles are donned in Scorsese's version of Hollywood criminality.

Witnessing gloomy events through the eyes of Daniels, the audience are fed alarming whispers about Dr Cawley's medical tactics: a character played splendidly by a convincing Ben Kingsley, the eccentric doc with radical methodologies.

DiCaprio is sensational, immersing himself in the character. The film's disturbing tone causes the viewer to nurture ideas of the notorious and scandalous tactics used on mental patients generations ago. Daniels endeav-

ors to uncover the suspicious events transpiring on the island, and the picture is warped inside a maze of blotted hallucination, confusion and ambiguity.

Daniels suffers relentless flashbacks of a German concentration camp, and the death-camp deliriums tether to hallucinations of his dead wife (Michelle Williams). The developing film content is mystifying, and frenzied Daniels has to differentiate between episodes of foggy reality and deranged nightmare.

As a whole, the film conjures up a full house of card tricks, as corruption and human insanity spreads atop the swathe of the plot.

Verdict: Shutter Island provides a dark insight into the psychological nature of human grievance and in essence, the mind's fragility to human wickedness.

Prepare for the full-hog of cinematic twists as Scorsese delivers a production that is sure to leave you mentally jumbled.

Reviews The Girl With...

GREEN ZONE

THE BLIND SIDE

Elmley De la Cour

Ben Clough

Krupa Savjani

Director: Niels Arden Oplev Cast: Noomi Rapace Cert:18

Director: Paul Greengrass.

Cast: Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear Cert: 15

Director: John Lee Hancock Cast: Sandra Bullock Cert: 15

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is based on the first book of Stieg Larsson's best-selling 'Millennium Trilogy.' Set in Sweden, journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) is hired by the ageing former head of a family business, to investigate the disappearance of his niece forty years earlier. Mikael is aided by computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), and together they attempt to solve the family's mystery.

Films like this are rare.

Dragon Tattoo is an intelligent, gripping thriller that succeeds on almost every level. The reason it is so good, however, is that it is more than just a thriller. Dragon Tattoo blends aspects of detection, drama and horror brilliantly, creating a wonderfully dark thriller with real depth. This is driven throughout by a powerful storyline that is believable and never fantastical.

Part of why Dragon

Tattoo is so enjoyable is that it feels real. The main character, Mikael, is wonderfully normal; leading man charisma is nowhere to be seen. He is middle-aged with a paunch and an impressive amount of chest hair.

Lisbeth, on the other hand, is a bisexual punk with a history of emotional problems. They feel like genuinely normal people, something Hollywood rarely achieves.

Much of this praise must be credited to Larsson's book, but the film can still stand alone.

Director Niels Arden Oplev achieves something remarkable; the film plays like a book reads: detailed, measured and personally affecting.

Dragon Tattoo is stunning but, it should be noted, several graphic scenes of rape and torture are tough going. The film's 18 certificate was given for a reason.

After an eight-year hiatus from the battlefield, in which he has directed two of the acclaimed Bourne films, Paul Greengrass returns to the genre looking at the American invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Damon stars as Chief Miller, who is becoming more and more frustrated about incorrect intelligence about the locations of weapons of mass destruction. When told that one of Saddam's main men is nearby whilst on another find-the-fictional-bomb mission, Miller takes matters into his own hands.

It all stays fairly sensible until the point where Miller goes rogue.

Greengrass's trademark handheld camera style is immersive, if quite nauseating, and the action is fast and manages to avoid becoming a Call of Duty rip-off. However, this does not last long. Once Miller begins his one-man quest for the truth, Greengrass is really ask-

ing a lot of the audience to suspend their disbelief, particularly when Miller's interpreter (Khalid Abdalla), an Iraqi civilian with one leg, manages to run as fast as a helicopter and a jeep.

It's not difficult to tell that the politics were a bit of an afterthought.

Miller, on the other hand, is faultless, and apparently the only person in Iraq (aside from CIA agent Martin Brown) who's noticed that perhaps, after numerous fruitless attempts to find the weapons, something isn't quite right.

The letdown is the balance between the action and the politics but Greengrass badly overcompensates for that; the action takes prominence, and the political message is bordering on ludicrous. In summary, we all owe Matt Damon a big thank you for uncovering the lie about WMDs.

Based on a novel by Michael Lewis, John Lee Hancock brings us The Blind Side. Leigh (Bullock) and her perfect 2.4 children family, collectively 'the Touhys', reside on the more privileged side of Memphis. Michael, originally from the projects of Memphis (the ironically named 'hurtvillage'!), is homeless and it's Leigh's Christian act of taking him into her home that changes his life forever.

It's Sean Junior Touhy and Michael's blossoming relationship that is especially heart-warming, Michael's prepubescent manner along with his faultless nature and immense loyalty makes him a character impossible not to love. The positively endearing Michael is comparable to The Green Mile's John Coffey, excessively tall, of little words, often subjected to misplaced prejudice and possesses a heart of gold.

As nauseatingly ideal-

istic as this may appear Michael's arrival had its fair share of problems and Hancock does well in creating pathos in these scenes with apparent ease. The heart wrenching scene to watch out for is the laundrette scene, reminiscent of the unforgettable bathroom scene in The Pursuit of Happiness.

Sandra Bullock was rightly awarded an Oscar for best actress for her role in this film. Initially sceptical of her harsh Texan accent, she is superb. An outstanding performance as a ballsy blonde, a great mother and the perfect wife; a character not often associated with the once typecast Ms Bullock.

It's got suspense, action and light comedy, not to mention it being a definite tearjerker at points. I'd recommend it if not only to see Sandra Bullock's impressive performance.

17 Film News Film

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

Top Ten: Villains Genevieve Taylor They've got the creepy (usually quite racist) accents (Hans Gruber), they've got the looks, (The Joker), they've got the one-liners (Sherriff of Nottingham), they’ve got their diabolical plans (Scar), and sometimes they’re just downright terrifying (Kevin in Sin City). Everybody loves a good villain, and here are the ten best.

10. Kevin- Sin City

8. Maleficent- Sleeping Beauty One of the greatest maniacal laughs in cinema history. She's the only villainess on the list and she is absolutely horrifying.

7. Colonel Landa- Inglourious Basterds A new addition, Christoph Waltz rightly won the Oscar for playing the chillingly intelligent multilingual 'Jew Hunter.' 'That’s a bingo!'

Certainly the least talkative of the villains, Kevin’s silent stare makes glasses temporarily terrifying. The fact that he’s played by sweet little hobbit Elijah Wood makes things much, much worse!

6. Sheriff of Nottingham- Robin Hood Prince of Thieves

9. Prince Humperdinck- The Princess Bride

That lip-licking, his calm composure, the way he says 'Clarice…' Oh, and the fact that he eats people! Hannibal is a chillingly classy cannibal, and requests for impressions have been the bane of Anthony Hopkins' interviews for almost 20 years.

A joint award for the two slimiest villains. Their smooth-tongued overacting makes them great panto-style baddies and Christopher Guest's Six Fingered Man produced one of cinema’s favourite lines, 'My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!'

He will eat your heart out with a spoon! That is all.

5. Hannibal Lecter- Silence of the Lambs

4. Scar- The Lion King Jeremy Irons has a voice made for villainy. Scar is

a charismatic and brilliant bad guy. And the snarly singing helps too!

3. The Joker- The Dark Knight Heath Ledger, in the second Oscar-winning performance of the list, makes a classic role his own with this magnificently psychotic performance. His look is fantastic, and no, we definitely do not want to know how he got those scars!

3

2. Hans Gruber- Die Hard Alan Rickman is the only actor to appear twice on this list, and for good reason. He is the go-toguy for European baddie excellence and Gruber the calculated, German terrorist is his pièce-derésistance.

2

1. Darth Vader- Star Wars The daddy of all villains (see what I did there?)

Vader is the most iconic of all these, even if he does *spoiler* go good in the end. Everything from the respirator voice, to the black outfit, to the random killings and power complex epitomises movie villainy.

1

Mike Brownlee We kick off this week with some very exciting news from Christopher 'God' Nolan. He recently stated that he and fellow scriptwriter/brother Jonathan Nolan have 'cracked' the story to the third Batman film in their franchise.

The script is being finalised and Nolan will almost certainly return to direct.

It will be the final Batman film from them and aims at finishing the story and not leaving it open to lame sequels from welterweight directors (no names: Joel Schumacher).

Warner Brothers have also approached Nolan to produce their latest Superman reboot, which we can expect to see around 2013. Also in the superhero pipeline is Green Lantern. Filming has started for the big screen adaptation, which will see Ryan Reynolds donning the green; expect to see this in summer

2011.

Already tipped to be one of the funniest films of next year is The Hangover 2. Filming will begin in October with all the cast members and director Todd Phillips returning. We can also look forward to another Ed Helms comedy: Jeff Who lives at Home. Helms plays the mature and straight-laced older brother of lazy pothead Jason Segel; sounds promising.

But what about this year? The release date for Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps has been pushed back to September to avoid the crowded summer months. We can look forward to the beginning of the end for the Harry Potter films: the first instalment of The Deathly Hallows is set to be released on the 19th November with the follow up in 2011. Though we all know what happens: Harry dies and Hermione gets naked… only joking lads, sorry!

18 Travel

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

Ride Earth: See the world and save the planet Louise Spratt explores why two Englishmen decided to pack their bags and cycle round the globe.

GLOBAL warming has long been a hot topic of debate and recent headlines have questioned who is to blame for the worsening phenomenon.

Whether the human race should take full responsibility for global warming is subject of much speculation but we cannot deny that our high-energy lifestyle has at least had a supporting role in the climatic drama.

This poses a somewhat ethical predicament; especially for us travel enthusiasts who are desperate to see the world in all its glory before it's too late but are torn between our yearning to do so and the guilt of contributing to the escalating carbon emissions. Talk about a catch–22.

Yet, all is not lost for the travel thirsty; there are guilt-free ways to see the world. How about ditching the airlines and the need to 'offset your carbon emissions' by get-

ting on your bike? That is exactly what three young Englishmen did back in 2007 — and they're still exploring.

With a desire to learn about the true nature of the world and simultaneously promote travelling with a minimal ecological footprint, Ride Earth was born and the three chaps departed from their homes in the UK with the collective, if somewhat vague, ambition to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle.

From a young age Tom Allen, Andrew Welch and Mark Maultby have had an affinity for nature that, over the years, developed into a joint concern for the well-being of our planet and its conflict with the man-made world.

The environmental enthusiasts have taken an active approach in their efforts to encourage green living and are now using Ride Earth as a means of supporting and provid-

ing coverage for their chosen charities, The Wilderness Foundation and Wheels4Life. Their passion and dedication to sustainable travel has gained the trio sponsorship from organisations such as WWF alongside reputable mountain biking organisations Extra Wheel, Chain Reaction Cycles and Kona.

The seeds were sown as far back as 2003 and finally the day came on 17 June 2007 when the lads embarked on their free-form adventure into the corners of the world yet to be well-trodden by tourists or backpackers, with the intention of wiping the slate clean and literally carrying their lives' possessions into the unknown. Loaded with cameras, camcorders and Moleskines, the trio set out to document their discovery of the world and themselves.

Setting off from Middleton, the journey has

Photo: ride-earth on Flickr.

so far taken them across to the Hook of Holland, through Western Europe, a meeting with WWF conservationists near Lake Geneva and a visit to friends in Vienna on the way. Following a recovery period in Hungary and Mark's departure from the expedition back to the UK, Tom and Andy experienced a culture shock in rural Romania and a hospitable welcome in Turkey during the Ramadan month before embarking on a challenging winter ride through the Caucasus and Central Asia.

The journey hasn't been without its trials and tribulations. The team cycled through unpredictable summer storms in Europe; such weather conditions soon became the norm. Setbacks came in the form of a knee injury for Tom, who also lost his wallet containing cash and bank cards – only to then lose the replacement card! The chaps were put to the test when they had to deal with a major wheel malfunction en route to Istanbul and also when they realised that their camping equipment was not, in fact, suitable for the below freezing night temperatures.

Of course, the lows have been intercepted by life-changing highs. Tom and Andy met a couple of English girls, who were so inspired by the guys' expedition that they ditched their InterRail tickets and found some bikes in order to join them. Seven months down the line, a decision to travel separately was made; enabling the duo to continue with their own personal journeys. Shortly after, Andy found love in Tbilisi and

Photo: ride-earth on Flickr returned to live and work there with his girlfriend Fanny. Coincidently, Tom met a girl in Yerevan and moved to Armenia where he settled and waited for Tenny to complete her studies; the two were married in Yerevan last September!

With Ride Earth still top on the list of priorities, Tom is now preparing to cycle across Asia with his new wife, while Andy is currently taking a break to raise funds for the next stages and is writing his first book about the travels from England to the Caucasus.

Andy, who has an Environment, Economics and Ecology degree says that the 'traveling lifestyle' vs. the daily routine of home and work, is not really a case of 'either/or.'

'I can achieve difficult things if I apply myself.

Life on the road has its ups and downs as does any lifestyle. Loneliness, fatigue, missing your family, but then the highs make you feel alive; flying downhill through wonderful exotic scenery'.

Despite the difficulties he faced, he says that he

would recommend cycling as a mode of transport to anyone. 'It connects you with our surroundings, makes it easier to meet people who are always interested in the bike and amazed you've come so far.'

Overall, he says that it 'provides a huge boost of strength, confidence, and intrigue about the world and you are always learning.'

Ride Earth has certainly earned its 'adventure' status and should be an inspiration to aspiring travellers; not only for its dedication to the worthwhile cause of green living but also for reminding us how travel ought to be: an open-minded journey of discovery, both personal and worldly, rather than a 'paint-by-colours' imitation of what has been done before.

Follow their journey around

the

world

at http:// www.rideearth.org.uk

Debate: To volunteer or not to volunteer?

FOR: Lou Rowen THERE can be more to travelling than simply visiting a hot country and leaving with a few drunken stories. Taking part in a volunteering project means you can break the mould of a stereotypical Western tourist and really experience a different country and their way of life.

Volunteering can range from teaching English to building a school or to planting trees in the rainforest. No matter what it is, one of the most exciting things about it is the fact that you can see the end result, rather than giving money to a cause and never knowing what it has achieved. I spent six weeks volunteering in Nepal building a community centre and teaching English. The best part of this

for me was the celebration with the other volunteers after we completed the building and seeing how much it meant to the villagers after weeks and weeks of hard work.

The people that you are helping by volunteering is not limited to the project you choose, rather volunteering has a much wider impact. A volunteering project will bring travellers to parts of a country, which they may not otherwise go to. This means more wealth can be brought into the area through local businesses, such as cafés, hostels and shops.

In Nepal we spent some time teaching at the local school and brought a little more wealth into the community by shopping for food at their local market. It may be argued that

Western volunteers are not needed when the local people can do it themselves, but more often than not it is the support that volunteers provide which is crucial to the formation and continuation of projects.

The whole point of volunteering is that the money normally used for wages can be spent on things like construction materials or books for schools. And if that's not enough of a reason to volunteer, then the more eco-conscious people that want to volunteer in conservation can work towards offsetting the carbon footprint of taking a flight!

Volunteering is more than an excuse to travel; it's a way of making a difference in the places you loved travelling to.

AGAINST: Rachel Damm THE first thing you'll remember when someone asks you about that summer you spent volunteering abroad is normally the amazing time you had, not how much you benefited anyone.

We may think we are going over to some far away country to help and to make lives either better or easier but in truth, are we just doing it for our own personal benefit? We feel good about ourselves when we help those less fortunate, but how much are we really helping?

For instance, consider a group of students who are going to an African country to help build a school. What makes us more qualified to carry

out this work than the African people? Sure we might bring over money for building materials, but if we had not gone there at all, if we had put all the money we paid for flights, accommodation, food and everything we spent while there into building materials we'd probably have two more schools.

And what makes us think that having middle class Westerners invading their homes and taking work away from them is helping?

Any attempt not to appear pretentious is often overridden by the sense of pride and selfimportance gained by the thought that we are giving away our time in order to benefit others. Do not get me wrong, I am an avid volunteer both in this country and abroad, but

what we have to realise is that most of the time what we are doing abroad is in fact less effective in certain circumstances due to a lack of funds; funds which we spend making their potential benefit into our personal experience.

Sometimes it is more beneficial to give money rather than your time, however this rarely happens as people are unwilling to give such an amount as they would spend on flights without being able to add another country to their list.

More often than not, it seems the only reason we choose to volunteer abroad is for the experience we gain from it, and the fact that we can use it as an excuse to justify travelling.

Travel

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

24 hours in Amritsar – Pete Blakemore

Postcard from the Road: On the Tarmac too long Pete Blakemore

Border-closing ceremony, India – full photo essay on Redbrick Online

Escape England at Easter Edward Gordon

Day tripping AVOID all notions of day trips being for the slew of beige pensioners heading, two-by-two, towards Bognor Regis on a Happy Days coach. Day trips have now gone continental.

Catch a train in London or jump on a plane, then a few hours later you can be sipping a cocktail in Brussels, or trying the cuisine on the Seine. Day trips offer a unique way to see a city.

Often you can 'see' many of the main attractions of a city in a few

Paris by night

Paris

Flights – £132 Trains – £88.50 A quick scan around the Louvre, a look at the tower, and Paris is nearly done. It's a struggle, but you can see most in a day.

Dublin

Flights – £57 Catch up with our celtic cousins across the water and take in all those famous cultural icons of Dublin. hours, even leaving you with enough time to find a more nuanced feel of the city. Many may argue that you are forced to see too

much too quickly but this is the thoroughly modern way to travel.

High-speed connections mean places are more accessible to people than ever before. So instead of using up your precious weeks off from work marauding through the same old streets, hop on the train on your day off and take in a new town, a new city, a new country, then be back in time for Match of the Day.

Weekend Break THE 'long weekend' has become synonymous with romantic getaways, but don't let this put you off.

The three day weekend lends itself to any form of exploration and travel.

Having a good dance in Faliraki, getting baked in Amsterdam or exploring the cultural amenities of Madrid or Barcelona, a weekend trip offers a much greater scope for the traveller.

Not bound to the time restrictions of a day-tripper, a weekend offers the inner flaneur a chance to flourish in cities much further from home, while never really interrupting the normal routine of your week. Whilst they can vary in price – for some reason Paris becomes extravagantly expensive during mid February – they can also be done on the

19

Tarmac, asphalt or even tarmacadam according to one thesaurus – we all spend hours sitting on this taken-for-granted material. Call it by different names, but the significance it plays in our lives is undeniable. A six hour journey on an Indian bus may not be as comfortable as an EasyBus, but it's more inspirational.

The creative juices flow better whilst having your spine shaken to dust; and on one of these journeys Redbrick Travel was dreamed up. Yet, eight months later I'm stuck in traffic on the M25 and my best foreign analysis is concerning England and Scotland... And focuses mainly on the accent.

It is far easier to write articles comparing the differences between India and Pakistan when overlooking the border-closing ceremony with armed guards scoping each other out. Writing when not travelling is necessary but frustrating; The subject matter may not change but your perspective, connecting the little things while looking at the big picture, becomes harder. Writing from a basement room in the Guild isn't the best place to vent your frustrations about the political differ-

ences of another country.

Instead it is easier to concentrate on the personal agendas affecting your day; no matter how trivial they may be.

I know this isn't why Travel became an idea on that bus journey in the first place. It was never about writing the rights or wrongs of the Redshirt protestors, pondering whether or not Preah Veah is actually disputed land, or solving the India/Pakistan problem, I did it for the juices. Getting stuck on a bus and being able to empty your soul into 300 words about a country's contradictions with a geopolitical affect always felt natural and more creative without having a deadline.

And so I am relinquishing that place in the basement for two people who will have their wits tested and spend hours without sunlight. Who will also waste time sitting aimlessly on the tarmac while thinking of ways to throw the Aussies on the barbie. As for me?

I'm heading back to India where, 8 months ago, Redbrick Travel was born.

Listen to Pete & James' last travel podcast from Tuesday on Redbrick Online

Amsterdam

Flights – £97 Brothels and churches, haut-cuisine and burger vending machines, Amsterdam is a place with as much to see as to do.

Take a weekend.

'La Feria de Abril' Seville 20-25th April

Flights – £90 return Kick–starting with a bang, midnight firework displays officially begin this five day party; a spectacle of Spanish spirit, spontaneity and sexuality. cheap with a cheeky ferry and a car, or a even a flight if booked early/late enough.

Weekend-breaks are little epigrams of holidays; the whole exciting -feeling of exploring a new town, with time to see beyond the obvious tourist traps of it.

Two-week trip NOTHING truly lives up to the big break. For convenience, the others may win. A two or three week jaunt to other towns' mosttimes takes two things that students lack; organisation and money. Unless you are one of the dying breed of cool, relaxed travellers that can decide to go to Morocco for a month on a whim, then a

Photo by Oberazzi on Flickr 'big' trip takes more than 'doing' than most. Cost wise too, they obviously surpass a long weekend in terms of accommodation, and money for the 'String Men of Sacré Coeur always adds up. Having said this, if you look hard enough, and are open to your destination, then the cost works out only a little more, and the scope for travel is literally endless.

The sky is no longer the limit.

When you arrive, the sense of freedom offered by this travelling is unprecedented, with two weeks of nothing but wandering starry eyed and mouth ajar at the wonders

of a new city. With a big holiday, you can truly embrace the feel of the city.

InterRail – Europe

Train ticket from £150 Inter-railing may be increasing in price, but the idea of it still remains sound. Grab a bag and go exploring wherever a whim takes you.

Istanbul

Flights from £200 The most expensive, but the most exotic, Istanbul, offers a perfect mix of unique culture and lazy days by the pool. You can really chase your own holiday here.

20 Music

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2009

Redbrick reloaded Beautifully in keeping with the theme of debauchery and bodily fluids, 'Accident & Emergency' is becoming 'Water Closet'.

CHANCES are, you haven't been avidly following and blogging about the search for our replacements. But we are happy to announce that they are here! Freshfaced, wrinkle-free babies in the Redbrick office.

No doubt there will be some changes over time, but don't worry students: this section is going to stay consistently brilliant.

Redbrick meets...

The most important thing is that we're featuring artists you want to see, therefore please feel free to email us any new ideas for Music or if you'd like to join the team and write for us.

Contact:music@redbrickonline.co.uk

The July Days Ellen Tout continues her roaring rampage of research into the Uni's student bands.

What's On...

Music Diary

Sunday 21st

Friday 19th

Monday 22nd

HIM O2 Academy

Diana Vickers Glee Club Birmingham

50 Cent LG Arena, NEC

Tuesday 21st

Four Tet with Fake Custard Factory

Frank Turner O2 Academy

Nathan

Saturday 20th Courteeners + The Whip O2 Academy Tiesto LG Arena, NEC

Zebrahead O2 Academy 2

Wednesday 22nd Paloma Faith O2 Academy

Thursday 23rd The Automatic O2 Academy

Album Reviews The Smoking Rolo Sideshow Rocket Silence

7

David Inkpen STARTING with song names worthy of a disrespectful emo band, I wasn't holding out much hope for The Smoking Rolo Sideshow.

But what we're interested in here at the lowly depths of Redbrick Music is not band politics, or how pompous they come across. We are interested in music. So, to the music:

it's brilliant. If Pink Floyd, Queens of the Stone Age had an acoustically influenced bastard child then that child would be The Smoking Rolo Sideshow.

There are a couple of miss tracks on the album, but mostly they're on target.

Interestingly, every song has a very different feel (possibly due to the band being made up of about thirty members, just a few of whom write and record songs at a time) but it coalesces well into an album.

Ranging from hard rock to almost Belle & Sebastian-esque soothingness, Rocket Silence is a very interesting album and more than listenable.

Even if their band dynamic is a little strange, they seem to bash their collective heads together well and something good does fall out.

YOU might remember The July Days from ValeFest 2009: they performed on the main stage. However, if not, do not fret! We've got everything you need to know about the promising six-piece.

Let's start at the beginning. The July Days formed at University and added their final member, Dave, in September of 2009. They subsequently undertook 'a mini-tour of Birmingham' and recently played at Rainbox in Digbeth.

Rob (guitar and violin) clarified that the band's name is a 'pretentious' historical reference, to the 1917 Russian revolution. Yet their upbeat and catchy music could not be Jason Derulo Jason Derulo

3

Lexie Frost THE CD cover blurb '9 Hits, 1 Album' and the fact that Jason Derulo sports more complicated facial topiary than Craig David surely heralds something big! A future Michael Jackson maybe? A Justin Timberlake usurper? Could this be the album that lures this recovering goth to the light side?

I am further impressed upon examining the inlay notes. 'Thankyou, God,' pants Derulo, 'for choos-

more dissimilar to these events. It seems impossible to lump The July Days into any one genre: pop, rock, classical or alternative?

I was enticed by the sandwiching of male-female vocals and melodic explosions, on songs like I Said, You Said or Babe Ruth. Asking the group to describe their music in three words they offered 'indie-pop orchestra', which honestly sums them up perfectly. After all, how many bands include a harmonica, violin, trumpet and glockenspiel?

I enquired if there were any artists who had particularly inspired this sound. Reece (vocals and guitar) explained that each member has a vastly different musical background which, when brought together, creates the 'mishmash' masterpiece that is The July Days. His dream

act to support live would be Ian Dury & The Blockheads, whilst Dave (bass and synth) chose Arcade Fire: 'they'd have enough microphones, so it'd be fine'.

Do The July Days envisage fame and fortune on the horizon? Perhaps, although the finger did seem to be pointing primarily towards Reece.

Harriet (vocals and more), however, insisted that she simply hopes to 'play at a gig where people know the lyrics and are into the music'. Either way, The July Day's sound is definitely infectious and who knows – maybe one day, Vale Festival will be replaced with Glastonbury. For now though, the group are content playing to a largely student crowd.

Dave and Reece both named playing at the recent Rainbox charity gig

as their proudest achievement to date, joking that their music 'doesn't appeal to anyone over the age of thirty'. Harriet concurred that 'students are awesome ... if you've come to a gig, thanks. We feel very thankful that anybody comes and even dances'.

If you're wishing you could be in their situation then here's some advice.

Dave simply says 'do it', whereas Reece suggested that music is 'a great outlet for work stress'. Harriet, like many of the student bands I have spoken gave the advice of practising constantly and to 'use all the skills you have'. As far as they're concerned, 'if someone can play something, it's in!'

ing ME!' I think I am about to hear the second coming! In song! One hour later and I'm begging for Mortiis. Any Mortiis.

The album alternates between generic R&B (Whatcha Say) and light rock (Love Hangover) via the obligatory pantydropper What If. Hoping that my natural antipathy for R&B could be overcome by strong lyrics, I was disappointed. 'When I'm a star, we'll be livin' so large' wines Derulo, his voice becoming more digitally altered with each note.

It did make an amusing accompaniment to the hour I spent leafing through issues of the National Enquirer whilst sucking on Chuppa-Chupps. My favourite part of this review was guessing which of the ten tracks, wasn't the hit. My guess: Strobelight. Though, really, it could have been any of them.

Airbourne No Guts. No Glory.

party harder' mindset of the previous release.

Tracks such as Blonde, Bad and Beautiful, It Ain't Over Till It's Over, Back on the Bottle and the first single from the new album, No Way But the Hard Way; typify the gloriously overthe-top nature of this particular brand of music.

This album rips apart any naysayers or disbelievers with tongue nailed firmly in cheek, with the cover artwork depicting everything from a steel plant and helicopters to a tornado and a bikini-clad woman covered in dollar bills.

The only concern is that, in parts, this eclectic mix of clichĂŠ does not allow the album to gel together, instead giving a collection of good songs.

Either way, this is definitely something worth investing time into, irrespective of previous exposure to the band.

7

John Asquith AUSTRALIAN hard rockers Airbourne are set to continue their AC/DC-esque rampage with a brand new album, No Guts. No Glory. and a string of UK tour dates.

Anyone who's heard the band's previous release, Runnin' Wild, will know exactly what to expect; the sound of this album is very much more of the same. All thirteen tracks on this album are in the same 'drink hard,

The July Days can be found online on Facebook, Myspace and at www.thejulydays.com

Music

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

Spotlight On...

Pulling the sword out of the stone, Will Hunter is the chosen one, springing to defend BBC 6 Music IN an attempt to divert extra funds into improving larger, better-known stations, the end of BBC 6 Music is apparently imminent and – next to the appearance of Lady Gaga's private parts in her latest video – it's the latest hot topic in the music world.

It's racked up over 8,000 complaints from listeners, petitions containing up to 100,000 names, numerous video responses on YouTube and extensive outcries from famous figures within the music industry.

the last gasps of 6 Music

on its broadcasting and giving a chance to bands under the radar. Broadcast solely on digital radio, choosing quality over quantity with a distinctive broadcasting style, BBC 6 music haven't done themselves any favours when it comes to rooting themselves into the super-power of the BBC; perhaps why only one in five of the British public knew it even existed. It has received criticism with regards to its demographic (with the average listener age being 37), and that there isn't the luxury in today's economy to keep every radio station alive.

That being said, as a station it's been greatly influential on the music scene of today. It's the John Peel of all radio

'...could there perhaps be some hope for the station that took Russell Brand in when no one else would?'

So with all this hype, could there perhaps be some hope for the station that took Russell Brand in when no one else would?

Or will it just be another victim of the 'recession', and the cruel hand of the fat cats at the Beeb?

Founded in 2002, BBC 6 Music has prided itself

stations, and does everything Jo Whiley claims to do with her Radio 1 show, but never achieves.

Bands such as Bombay Bicycle Club, Friendly Fires and Florence and the Machine were first broadcast on 6 Music and received wider coverage because of it. It serves a

Live Reviews Katatonia 14/03 @ Little Civic, Wolverhampton Charlie Bailey HAVING spent twenty minutes wandering around Wolverhampton, the venue was finally located as the first band took to the stage.

Long Distance Calling might have a rather indie friendly name but their sound translates into one excellent instrumental after another. All their tracks were epic in length and simultaneously crushing and serene.

The final act on support were Swallow the Sun, gracing these shores to the obvious delight of their fanbase. Creating a monolithic sound and making good use of varying tone, the six-piece

were the highlight of the evening, even if their keyboardist does have the worst death-stare in history.

Always lush and majestic on record, Katatonia fail once more to translate that sound adequately in person. Their singer is average at best and the sound always ends up muddier than Glastonbury. To put it bluntly, Jonas Renkse's voice is too weak to distinguish itself.

Producing few memorable tunes on the night, Katatonia were coming to the end of a longish period of touring and probably need the time off.

target group that is poorly catered for on the more commercial stations. Given there is literally not another radio station like it, what have we left once it goes? Their alternative approach to broadcasting allows them to touch on

countless interviews with current and past presenters show great support from well-known public figures. Lily Allen quite eloquently said: “What is happening now reflects a huge, politically motivated reshuffle; closing

21

Probe...

Zee Avi

Photo: Autumn de Wilde

Music Editor Erica Anne Vernon invites you to feed your soul with the mellow sounds from an ancient paradise...

Photo: www.bbc.co.uk/6music various different genres, with current shows ranging from Craig Charles and his funk & soul show, to Jarvis Cocker and his selection of alt.rock. Having such variety ensures a lack of vanilla broadcasting, and very rarely is there repetition of tracks throughout the day unlike many other stations.

Thankfully, though, things look positive for the digital station. Twitter posts from Emily Eavis practically begged people to sign the petition and

BBC 6 Music is bad news for unsigned acts and new British music”, and in one small sentence practically sums up the entire situation. The shut down of 6 Music cuts off a major outlet for those artists struggling to break through, all for the sake of money, which could clearly be sourced from areas such as the fees for presenters and executives. Without much-needed coverage, could this be the death of new music?

Lady Gaga 06/03 @ NEC Eva Hibbs ANTICIPATION mounted through many Mexican waves (popular with the rowdy teen girls, apparently) and cheers every time the background music paused. She left fans waiting for over an hour after Alphabeat's appearance, enough time for everyone to spend at least another tenner on two drinks and some nachos.

Finally the echoes of Bad Romance filled the thankfully small stadium – we were on the back row, of course. The projector screen on stage teased us with her posed shadow as the lights yo-yoed to the beat, as if on a pendulum.

I have never seen a crowd so excited, not even for Britney.

But now Gaga could

ONE could bore you by harking on about how Zee Avi's success in releasing an album is a fairytale of how the internet can 'uncover' talent. In truth, those stories put me off completely. I abhore bands whose only indication of their own relevance is how many friends they have on various networking sites. Luckily, I can let Zee Avi off the hook; she quite innocently popped her first video onto YouTube to share her music with a friend.

The debut mentioned earlier is a self-titled album, which was released last May. Her official biography claims that the album explores 'an outsider's desire to belong

and the tentative hope of moving on, filled with regret and loss, but boasting an impish, worldly wise sensibility'. And after extensive listening, I would agree; Zee Avi employs a quaint folksy spin on darker issues. She clearly draws from a wealth of influences – ranging from jazz greats and eccentric icons to rock classics – making her truly original.

It's difficult to pick out individual tracks, but Just You and Me notably utilises the uplifting sounds of the ukelele, and Honey Bee showcases Zee Avi's lyrical and vocal powers.

I urge you to pay her Myspace or www.zeeavi. com a visit today.

Delphic 14/03 @ O2 Academy William Franklin floor Britney with a spit: she's sexier, she's got a really intriguing way of interacting with the audience and most of all, can actually hit the notes.

Costume and set were just spectacular; at one point she was slamming on a grand piano that spat flames with every chord, sporting a headdress that resembled a prosthetic lamp.

She's creepy and odd, prancing around in a gold bikini with a clip on the screens of her gnawing on a human heart. It wasn't a gig where you're only waiting for the songs you know, it was more like you were watching a musical and in the breaks were Lady Gaga songs. Camp as hell, and brilliant for it.

AFTER seeing their stunning performance at Bestival, and the appearance on Jools Holland that shot the Mancunian 3-piece into the public consciousness, I had high hopes for this gig. After all, there's only so much you can do to fill out a huge airy tent on the Isle of Wight, but an intimate performance in the upper room of the Academy? Consider my mind well and truly blown.

Flashy showmanship is neglected for aweinspiring musicianship, every movement feels planned and polished and you definitely get the impression they're enjoying this as much as you.

And the most exciting thing? They segue the

entire set. By that I mean Delphic don't pound out a few hits, pandering for applause between each to stall before they're forced to move into their back catalogue. God no. The whole set (minus encore obviously) is one unbroken wave of sound as they seamlessly transition between each song.

Okay, seamlessly isn't exactly accurate, as the last strains of one song fade out, you'll be treated to a vast cascade of electronica as they oh-so slowly tease into the next.

Take their closer Counterpoint: by the time Boardman had begun squeezing out the first few notes of that gorgeous synth line, the crowd was in an allout frenzy.

22 Arts & Culture

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

Secret Birmingham:

Created in Birmingham @ The Bullring

Lexie Frost Get ready to support local creativity as a unique shop pops up in The Bullring.

With its stark white walls, ceiling and floor; Created In Birmingham surely belongs in the Custard Factory or at least edgy Digbeth?

Taking up an empty shop rent-free for six weeks, Created In Birmingham is standing proud next to H&M and other high street giants.

The offerings include rare collectable Bollywood posters, local art, records, CDs, T-shirts and my favourite, the cutest felt handbags and cuffs; all crafted by local talent.

A far cry from the popup stores we are used to, flogging old bits of market stock and sports wear and generally adding to the lack of excitement so prevalent in today's shopping experience.

'This is the first physical representation of a blog,' says Created in Birmingham's Dan Davies.

'It's obviously not as successful as H&M but that is not the point.'

The shop itself is not aiming for a high profit. Art company Smiles

makes approximately £10 per print they sell. 25 per cent goes to the store.

Created in Birmingham is the brainchild of Chris Unitt, who writes the Guardian Award-winning blog of the same name. It promotes Birmingham's creative community. The store is an extension of this idea; and, not being content just to showcase this online, they are bringing the wares to the consumer. Often at much lower prices than you would expect to pay for a one off-creation or modern art. For instance, you can have a framed print of any Birmingham street sign for £50. Prices rarely rise above £100. Currently flying off the shelves are bookmarks and let-

ter paper made from recycled shredded paper.

There is a special version made of old romance novels; perfect for a unique love letter.

As not many out-of town-visitors venture beyond the Bullring to areas like Digbeth, a shop like this in the Bullring should hopefully challenge prescribed notions of consumerism and perceptions that Birmingham is only an industrial town.

The shop will remain open for four more weeks, in time for the European City of Culture judges to assess Birmingham's chances for 2011.

So go and support art that, like Brum itself, is brave, edgy and made with love.

The store can be found just by the Apple shop.

Ballet:

BRB 20th Anniversary@ The Hippodrome Kathleen Walker The evening was a special gala performance, mixing film clips from the archive and interviews with the company's director, David Bintley, shown on TV screens around the auditorium with live performances from company dancers and students currently training. Whilst it took a little time to get used to the format of the evening, it was a great way to introduce less seasoned ballet fans (such as myself) to the history of the BRB and subsequent performances.

The performances ranged from brand new works to those that the company is known for, such as the much loved Nutcracker. We were treated to the graceful student performance of Concerto with simple costume and sunset backdrop, followed by the comical Sylvia Pirates complete with a peg legged dancer.

The hot-from-the-press, Printer Jam, created February 2010, surprised many in the audience with its mixture of drum and bass music, sampled printer sounds, and creative balletic moves. Its desire to explore office politics

through modern ballet was intriguing, but successful. Further exploring the politics of dance was the excerpt of Romeo and Juliet by the Ballet Hoo! Company comprised of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

It brought an injection of youthfulness to proceedings, with many of the participants now studying dance and showing great promise on stage.

The evening concluded with a performance of Theme and Variations to the wondrous music of Tchaikovsky. I have to admit that whilst the modern takes on ballet did truly surprise me in its appeal, it was this last performance that embraced me as a traditional ballet fan, treating us to the original entrancing magic.

Peter Wright and David Bintley have created a company that demonstrates a clear ability to nurture, whilst transforming classic shows, yet still pushes the medium of ballet to bring its riches to a wider audience. It was an enchanting evening of celebration of the old and new at BRB, with a glimpse of even greater things to come.

Photo Courtesy: BRB

Theatre: From Shakespeare to musicals to new dramas...

Titus Andronicus @ Underground Laura Rudolf 3BUGS' adaptation of William Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus was a uniquely contemporary production, mixing ancient Rome with our modern day virtual reality obsession.

Aaron, played by Chazz Redhead, was adapted to be a controlling computer geek, obsessed with mindless violence and uncaring of who he destroyed in his virtual game. The audience, however, experiences the game as a real life situation and therefore becomes face to face with rape, murder and violence. The performance was a mix of dance, drama, voice and physical theatre all performed to an electronic sound track.

The play is one that presumably would be very hard to direct and yet, Joe Vetch did an absolutely superb job in creating an intimate and highly believable play.

The choreography complimented the virtual reality vision of the piece and reminded the audience that the characters are being controlled. Their actions are not a result of their own decisions. Furthermore, the actors too are somewhat controlled

by direction. Within the play they bounced on the spot when not in motion, just as computer game characters do when they are waiting for their next move.

Clare Gould choreographed a piece of tango dance to portray a sexual, romantic scene, which worked greatly in contrast to the violent, war choreography in other scenes.

The movement was an absolute spectacle to see.

At times the play was incredibly emotional and the cast really pulled at the heartstrings of the audience when they presented them with an abused, raped and tortured girl who no longer had any hands or a tongue due to the torment she underwent. We then saw how this torture ruined her family and the play got bloodier and more violent until an enormously shocking ending full of death and grief.

This was a shocking, emotional, heart-wrenching performance full of obvious talent and extreme hard work. It really confirmed the talent the young actors have and you definitely missed out if you did not get a chance to see it!

Begin/End @ The REP Damilare Olugbode Although the title appears basic this production was far from anything simple.

The innovative infusion of music, dance and drama made this production a smash-hit with the audience at Birmingham's Rep. The play chronicles the life of two differing characters that form an unlikely friendship as they confront the struggles of being a teenager in East London. Characters Yaz and Lily could not be more different. 'Loud mouth' Yaz aspires for a career as a dancer in America, and 'fanatical' Lily aspires to be an Olympic athlete.

Their friendship is continuously tested as they both confront abusive parents, the education system and disputes in regards to their sexuality.

The two leading females deserve a mention for successfully maintaining the audience's interest throughout, especially with a cast of less than three characters. Their emotional and physical deliverance was captivating and the audience was made to feel more like an inquisitive neighbour as opposed to being another

theatre patron watching a standard play.

David Lane, the playwright, cleverly managed to unite East London jargon with eloquent language which provided the dialogue with a poetic rhythm. The set was ingenious and acted as a signifier of the mental consciousness of the character Lily. The array of cabinets and varied heights operated as a symbolic image of Lily's disjointed memories and props utilized as chairs, mirrors and roofs. The music helped to build dramatic tension and effectively communicated the shifting mood of the each character.

Overall, the play effectively conveys teenage East London girls and the relationships they share with one another. The play is unique, witty and striking with a message that speaks to younger viewers who may struggle with the some of the issues being explored. It was both heartfelt and original.

Begin/End is currently on a national tour until the end of March.

The Mikado @ Symphony Hall Teodora Barzakova The play begins by introducing a beautiful Japanese girl called Yum-Yum, who the audience discovers is in love with the son of the royal Mikado; the emperor of Japan. The inevitable catch in this love affair is that the female protagonist can marry the prince only for the duration of one month and when their 'honey moon' expires he will be beheaded and she will be buried alive. This absurdly severe decree leads to a myriad of implausibly comical situations, as the couple attempt to avoid the condemnation of the grave punishment. It is set in a fictional version of Japan used merely to provide a picturesque setting for political satire and harsh critique of British affairs and institutions.

The Southbank celebrates its 125th Anniversary with this special performance in the cities of Birmingham and London.

The London Concert Orchestra and Chorus have been brought together specifically for this show, starring the famous conductor Richard Balcombe.

Alistair McGowan is the hilarious Mikado,

probably best known for the play The Big Impression. Opera lovers would also know David Curry, Simon Butteriss and a whole set of stars like Rebecca Bottone and Sophie-Louise Dann.

Symphony Hall, being one of the few outstanding architectural works in industrial Birmingham, was conspicuously full to capacity and fortunately the audience was not disappointed with the stellar performance that was on show. The older spectators, seated next to me, were reluctantly singing some of the songs; every joke filling the enormous hall with genuine laughter.

A small somewhat sour note however, is that given the prices of the tickets, the operetta is not a pleasure that everyone can appreciate, but for those who are fortunate enough, the encounter is one of invaluable satisfaction.

The Mikado is the performance to which I should have taken my mother for Mother's Day. A brilliant display that maybe could have compensated for all those forgotten birthdays and occasions I have missed during my 'busy' student life.

Arts & Culture

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

Music:

23

BBC Big Band @ Town Hall

Sgt Pepper @ Symphony Hall

Speech Debelle @ The Drum

Rosie Price

Samantha Clarke

James Reevell

Everyone has heard of The Nutcracker: the really famous ballet with a magician, Sugar Plum Fairies and a very enthusiastic food implement.

Everyone has heard of Duke Ellington: really famous Jazz composer with the likes of Take the A Train and It Don't Mean A Thing (if it ain't got that swing) to his name. However, what most people probably don't realise is that the two share common ground. Cue the BBC Big Band on Friday 12th March with Sounds of Harlem, an Ellington tribute, featuring the well – known classics to a few jazzy versions of the well – known classical.

In the first half the audience were treated to the Take the A Train, Merry-go-round and Ellington's version of The Nutcracker, in which a bamboo flute was produced and played by one of the saxophonists.

The second half opened literally with the sound of Harlem as a motif played on a trumpet and continued with a slower set and the final addition of singer, Jaki Graham.

Mellow trombone improvisations, the sound of Jay Craig's baritone sax and several amusing

piano-orientated endings dominated the first half where singing, incredibly high trumpet notes and Nick Dunham's laid back trumpet soloing in Mood Indigo distinguished the second. Radio – recorded commentaries gave the audience context on pieces, so that even the less famous were properly understood and conductor Jiggs Whigham even encouraged a little audience participation.

Enthusiasm was certainly not lacking, particularly in the case of Jaki Graham who somehow managed to dance in a pair of very high heels and virtuoso playing contrasted with some simple, yet effective jazz improvisation.

It was nice to hear pieces that perhaps weren't so well known and it was this that made the tribute to Ellington a far more accurate and sincere one than a simple run through of the classics.

I think I can speak for the entire audience (most of whom were dancing by the end) when I say Sounds of Harlem was very well executed and just so because it had the powerful and enthusiastic sounds of the BBC Big Band behind it.

A PACKED, atmospheric Symphony Hall enjoyed two hours of live Beatles' legendary music last Thursday. The Beatles' fans, both old and new, tapped and sung along to the note-for-note recreation of the Beatles' landmark 1967 concept album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The live show featured some of the best musicians from the Fab Four's own home town of Liverpool, and the opportunity to listen to some of the Beatles' greatest hits, together with the talent of the musicians certainly made it hard not to sing along as well!

The show commenced with the classic A little help from my friends, hitting the show off to a fantastic start.

Further songs included Lucy in the sky with diamonds, When I'm 64, Getting better, Being for the benefit of Mr. Kite and She's leaving home which all maintained the stan-

dard and pleasure of the show. All songs were performed with such enthusiasm and emotion. However She's leaving home stood out especially, as well as When I'm 64 – a particular favourite with the older fans!

The show also raised money for The Beatles Day Foundation trust, as £1 of each ticket went to this trust. The Beatles Day Foundation trust raises money for many worthy causes particularly those improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Although the original big screen animations and the bright costumes added to the enjoyment of the evening, the real talent were the Liverpudlian musicians.

Without a doubt, they brought one of rock 'n' r o l l ' s greatest landmark albums back to life, amazing the audience in a professional and faultless fashion.

Come to the Drum and escape the humdrum, Learn to like open Mic, See Debelle raising hell.

Birmingham has talent, Who knew, there were a few, Clawing out of the grey cement, And providing high class entertainment.

Setting the bar higher, Talent thats harder, faster and stronger.

Debelle won the Mercury, Now she's in the land of curry Dressed as an Indie Munchkin, She's aliterating sin, Dropping poets in the bin.

Rapping so quick it would give Twista a blister.

Chucking word grenades too fast, Rawer than her album in contrast, Too much! her tongue needs a cast, As words get lost in bombast.

Look she gives the Guardian, .......an erection.

Non-threatening, non comformist, She's in demand,

If a little bland.

Prop up the bar, Searching for Brum's new star.

Hear Nina Simone tear through the ozone, The singer her voluptuous clone.

Sing along to calypso in candlelight's glow, With a man who needn't worry about collecting giro.

Drink in the Carribean, Feel the rhthym and ride.

Still, Cool Runnings seems martian, Cos this shit is Trinadadian.

Saxophonist switching to MC, So quick you can't see.

Before a poem about Haiti, And its misery.

As you hear the poet orate, Listen to them blow and pluck, Sound that owes nothing to luck, Bring a date, An enjoyable evening for all, In fact I had a ball, Better rhymes, Required at all times, Than the ones you have read, If you don't want that feeling of dread, Or come across inbred.

Editorial:

Competition:

Previews

The art of the Arts building

IKONS by Amplified T-Shirts ...

If you like your stuff arty, get in on the party!

James Reevell Sam Langtree Maybe it's just my woeful attendance record but I struggle to feel any real connection with the Arts Building, which is strange given that it is the academic centre of my life.

More likely this detachment is actually a survival mechanism, to try and save myself from the life threatening dullness that engulfs the building.

Whether it be lecture halls that are one splash of blood away from being a scene from Saw, or the miserable, somehow simultaneously bright and dingy Mason Lounge.

The joys of the Arts Building are endless, whether it's being buffeted down the stairs by furious lecturers and students, to the pain caused by attempting to make any office before it shuts, straining up those last few stairs just in time to hear the key turn in the lock.

Still, maybe the answer is just to sit in the lobby, as with every turn of the revolving door more of your soul is sucked away.

For a building solely concentrated on litera-

ture, music and creative thought, the Arts Building lacks in aesthetic value.

Cut off from the grander red brick buildings that circle the University, ours is a measly weed, stunted for growth in the shadow of the main library.

Patrolling the corridors reveals a few hastily put together paintings thrown on the wall as an afterthought, but despite the lack of beauty, this building still manages to emanate some sort of gritty, '70s pastiche of charm.

Inside proves to be a hive of activity, the familiar faces of lecturers rushing flush faced from floor to floor. This is the lair of Gasiorek, Gunning, Adlington, Ellis, Lockwood and the one all the girls fancy. Their offices like dragon lairs, with books being the treasure.

I guess the building is like one of the many, many grizzled dusty tombs that lie inside it, with more emphasis on content than appearance.

Still I wonder if the shower in the Mason Lounge has some kind of conceptual quality.

Born in 2004, Amplified Clothing is now a well established fashion brand. Their edgy tees can be found adorning the bodies of music fans who proudly display rock legends and diamante studded Rolling Stone licks. The streetwear brand quickly attracted both celebrity and mere mortal fans and now, six years on, they count David Beckham, Lindsay Lohan and Agyness Deyn amongst their fans.

Now, dear reader, we are offering you the chance to win one of

these fantastic t-shirts in Amplified's Vintage range.

Inspired by the iconic photographer Francesco Mellina, the clothing brands' new range is retro inspired, displaying the faces of iconic rock stars and musicians such as The Who, Noel Gallagher and Jimi Hendrix. They're original, artistic and are perfect for the Summer festival period.

We have five of these tees to give out, so email us with your name and student number at arts@ redbrickonline.co.uk.

ACTing Up! @ The Drum, Friday 19th March, 7.30pm –Remember Ashley J from EastEnders and Tee-J from Kerching? These guys are back in a new comedy outfit. Tickets £8.

Arthur & George @ The REP, Friday, 19th March – Saturday, 10th April, 7.30pm – A play looking at Arthur Conan Doyle becoming a step closer to his own literary creation. Tickets £10-32.

Cloud 9 @ The Bristol Pear, Monday 22nd March – Thursday 25th March, 7.30pm – 3BUGs present Caryl Churchill's carnivalesque and sexually charged play. Tickets £5 Muti Conducts Beethoven @ Symphony Hall, Tuesday 23th March 7.30pm – The glamorous composer appears to take on the most illustrious of performances. Tickets £5-45.

Les Misérables @ The Hippodrome, Tuesday 23rd March – Saturday 17th April, 7.30pm – Everyone's favorite operatic tragedy. Tickets £18-50.

The Last Five Years @ The Deb Hall, Tuesday 23rd March – Wednesday 24th March, 7.30pm – GMTG give a musical with a twist, a look at a five year relationship with two people. Tickets £8.

Ghost Boy @ The REP, Wednesday 24th March – Saturday 27th May, 7.00pm – A collectic fusion grime, dubstep, electro and theatre, this production promises to be both anarchic and new. Tickets £10.

Reach For The Sky @ Town Hall, Thursday 25th March, 7.30pm – Celebrating local talented young musicians and artists in the Midlands area, this event aims to highlight the sucess of recent schemes and projects. Tickets £12.

For stockist details go to: www.amplifiedclothing.com

24 Television

Top Ten: Doctor Who Annie Hodson TRYING to select the ten 'best' episodes from the many hundreds of well written and performed Doctor Who adventures is no easy task. Certain earlier series' low production costs and dodgy special effects can mar their quality in the eyes of contemporary audiences, and the latest reboot of the franchise has certainly had more subtly written narratives. However overall, I have attempted to select episodes not for their shiny effects, but what they reflect about the Doctor.

5) The Invasion of Time (T. Baker) – An especially interesting episode in that it offers a glimpse into the stronghold of the Time Lords on Gallifrey.

The Doctor returns having claimed the Presidency, throws his assistant in jail and prevents a cataclysmic invasion from the warlike Sontarans. All in a day's work for the Doctor.

1) The Caves of Androzani (Davidson) – Peter Davidson gives the performance of his career in this semi-Jacobean tale of civil war, smuggling and political intrigue. Andozani is easily the finest regeneration story of any Doctor to date (although Tennant's impassioned outburst in The End of Time comes close), and it really highlights the truest qualities of the Doctor's personality.

2) Blink (Tennant) – No top ten could be complete without this infamous episode of Reboot Who. Remarkable for being a Doctor-Lite episode, but it is because Sally Sparrow must face the terror of the Weeping Angels alone that adds to the edge-ofseat dread that those frozen statues invoke.

3) Midnight (Tennant) – In my opinion, the finest Doctor Who Russell T Davis ever wrote. This story uses minimal set, a small cast and little required understanding of the show's history. It is psychological horror of the highest level and a perfect little slice of internal drama.

6) The Daleks (Hartnell) – This story marks the first appearance of the Doctor's most infamous enemies, the Daleks.

Even with 1960s production and effects, the terror that is the Daleks still comes through strong.

It is no wonder that they have survived in the public consciousness for so long.

7) Pyramids of Mars (T. Baker) – The Doctor goes up against Sutekh the Destroyer and (rare for a Time Lord) cleverly uses time travel to thwart his plans for world domination.

8) Bad Wolf (Eccleston) – A coming together of many little plot twists and hooks into the re-imagining of the Doctor's greatest enemies.

4) The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances (Eccleson) – Steven Moffat's skill manages to make an innocuous expression like 'Are you my Mummy?' into a chilling death cry. Considering that at the time of broadcast, Ecclestone's position as the Doctor was still relatively new, his humour and energy shines in this episode.

9) The Pirate Planet (T. Baker) – A stellar Douglas Adams script sees the Doctor and Romana hunting the Key to Time, onto a dangerous planet that shouldn't exist.

10) The Mind of Evil (Pertwee) – Something of a Hitchcockian drama, cleverly utilising the low budget of the times to kill people with psychic horrors.

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

The Doctor's on call Simon Fairbanks gives us the low down on what to expect for the Time Lord's eleventh incarnation THE fifth series of the relaunched Doctor Who returns this Easter after a year of one-off specials.

Fans have complained about the long absence, however the new series is set to be well worth the wait.

Admittedly, there are some worries because both David Tennant and Russell T Davies have stepped down as the Doctor and executive producer respectively.

But never fear, we have Matt Smith (more information on him in our profile feature) inheriting the Sonic Screwdriver and Stephen Moffat picking up the pen for chief writing duties.

Moffat's involvement is particularly exciting as he brought us some of the more memorable episodes of recent years, including moving-statue episode, Blink, and World War II gas-mask thriller, The Empty Child. He also gave us Captain Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman.

Most intriguingly, Moffat introduced us to the character of River Song, who is back this series, portrayed again

by Alex Kingston. It was hinted in the Silence in the Library two-parter that the Doctor eventually marries River Song and even tells her his real name.

River Song will feature in the fourth episode which also marks the return of the Weeping Angels from Blink.

Tune in this Easter to see how this develops.

Other returning writers include Mark Gatiss, Simon Nye and Gareth Roberts. Meanwhile, Richard Curtis, of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually fame, has been brought in to write an episode featuring Van Gogh (played by Tony Curran) fighting a yellow monster. Bill Nighy will co-star as a museum curator.

The Doctor has a new companion, Amy Pond, portrayed by Karen Gil-

lian. Screenshots of the first episode, The Eleventh Hour, reveal her to be a young police officer.

Gillan cameoed in the 2008 series of Doctor Who as a soothsayer and was so impressive that she has been upgraded to the main cast.

The YouTube trailers have revealed other tidbits of information, with the Daleks returning (again) during the World War II era in the third episode and vampires flying around in Renaissance dress in the sixth episode.

The latter was filmed in Croatia and has been penned by Toby Whithouse, creator of Being Human.

And if Daleks and vampires aren't enough, old school fans can rejoice as 1970s villains,the Silurians are being revamped.

The Silurians are prehistoric reptilians and a new tribe will awaken from under the earth in

the new series. Actress Neve McIntosh is playing a pair of twin Silurians and describes them as big lizard warriorwomen. Bad times for the Doctor.

As you can see, there is a lot to be excited about. The TARDIS is landing this April, so jump onboard and enjoy another delve into the Who-niverse.

Doctor who?

Box bites

Natalie Timmins sheds light on who the new Doctor is

Amber Alexander reports on the ins and outs of this week's television headlines

AFTER bidding David Tennant a tearful farewell on New Years Day, all dryeyes are now firmly fixed on the future of Doctor Who, with eleventh Doctor Matt Smith ready to make the dive into the spotlight.

Born on 28th October 1982, Matt grew up with his family in Northampton, excelling in music, sports and drama.

Despite his passion for football, a back injury blew the whistle on his game and led his attentions to acting, after his teacher secretly signed him up for the school play, Twelve Angry Men, to direct his talents elsewhere.

After joining the National Youth Theatre, Smith persuaded the University of East Anglia to graduate him without having to attend any lectures in his final two terms…

Forget 903 years of Doctoral wisdom, tell us how to con our lecturers like that and we'll follow!

Finding his feet on the boards, appearances in The History Boys at the National Theatre in London and Swimming with Sharks (opposite Christian Slater, no less), the West End honed his talents ready for the leap from stage to screen.

His TV debut came in the 2006 adaptation of The Ruby in the Smoke alongside the Doctor's former assistant Billie Piper, who he would have

The producers of Skins caused outrage among fans last Thursday when they killed off the show's resident hottie Freddie Mclair, played by Luke Pasqualino. In a clear attempt to liven up what has been a particularly dull series, Effy's jealous psychiatrist beats Freddie to death with a baseball bat.

This week we will wave goodbye to the rest of the cast as the series finale airs on 18th March.

Channel 4 has recommissioned the risqué drama for two more series, with an entirely new group of hedonistic teenagers set to wreak havoc on the streets of Bristol.

Eyebrows will be raised in a mischievous episode of The Simpsons this week , which sees the French First Lady Carla Bruni having an affair with Homer's colleague Carl Carlson during a trip to Paris. Sky1 will air the episode just a week after the real Carla Bruni faced allegations of having an affair with a musician.

BBC1 missed out on some eagerly anticipated drama last Friday when Cheryl Cole pulled out of her spot on Friday Night with Jonathon Ross.

The singer-turnedicon was set to sing her new single Parachute on the chat show, which also featured her arch-nemesis Charlotte Church. She avoided the inevitable awkwardness of the green

entirely different liaisons with in Secret Diary of a Call Girl later on (she seems to have a thing for Doctors…).

This led to a role in BBC political drama Party Animals and The Street, walking him straight into the BBC executive eye-line in time for his upcoming shot at the biggest role of his life so far.

With the special edition of Doctor Who Confidential to unveil the virtually-unknown Matt Smith as the man to take over from Tennant, executive producer Steven Moffat said he knew at the start of Matt's audition that he'd found his Doctor, praising his dynamism and swagger.

After months of names being thrown about, ranging from David Morrisey to Catherine Zeta Jones (although she's probably got enough experiences of old men to qualify her for the role), and three weeks of hopeful faces auditioning to take the reigns of the TARDIS, Matt stole the role on the first day of auditions.

So, relatively unknown, incredibly odd hair, and already hurtling round the TARDIS like a maniac: Matt Smith looks set to take the earth and the galaxies beyond by storm, proving that talent speaks louder than reputation and that 27 is the new 903.

Here's to spring and the new Who. Geronimo!

room when she cancelled due to bronchitis.

The BBC did get to show their Cheryl-appreciation however, when comedian Rufus Hound performed a hilariously energetic rendition of Fight for this Love on Saturday's Let's Dance for Sport Relief.

Meanwhile, in soap land the producers of Hollyoaks will be axing 11 more characters.

New boss Paul Marquess has made considerable changes since he joined in January in an effort to shake up the soap. We will be saying goodbye to the Valentines, however Marquess has promised the introduction of an exciting new clan.

Finally, if you're interested in catching Lady Gaga's raunchy video for new single Telephone you better look it up on Youtube. A number of TV Channels including MTV have refused to air the nine-minute extravaganza.

Television

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

TV Gold: Knowing Me, Knowing You With Alan Partridge Charlie Ward PREFIGURING the excruciating cringe-worthiness later adopted by so many British comedies, Steve Coogan's most inspired creation, Alan Partridge, was a pioneering stroke of genius.

Alan first appeared on our screens in The Day Today as a sports correspondent, but his big break came in 1994 with Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge, a spoof chat show which follows the catastrophic downward spiral of its host.

While in reality the show was a huge success, the fictional world shows Alan struggling for ratings as his show is inevitably axed after one series.

With the glistening comb-over of Terry Wogan and the hideous dress sense of Noel Edmonds, Alan certainly looks the part.

Co-writers Armando Iannucci, Patrick Marber, and Coogan take the most inane, cliché-ridden, contrived elements of a chat show and amalgamate them all into this hilarious parody of the genre.

In fact, Knowing Me, Knowing You was such an utterly accurate parody that many viewers at the time thought it was real, and wrote in to complain!

Every week, Alan

confronts fictional C-list celebrity guests, saying something embarrassing or offensive at every opportunity. These guests include an East End thug, Playboy's transsexual agony aunt, and most impressively of all, Roger Moore, who appears live on the show via telephone link up from Chiswick service station.

Alan even tries his hand at politics, hosting a Question Time-esque debate in which he promises to remain impartial as 'Pontius Partridge'.

Alan's interviews inevitably end in disaster, but nevertheless he always presents his guests with his trademark official tie and blazer badge combination pack as a memento. The various guests are brilliantly portrayed

by David Schneider, Patrick Marber and Rebecca Front, each of them demonstrating their versatility by taking on several very different roles.

But the star of the show is Coogan. Portrayed with such consummate precision, one gets the impression that he is himself 'part-Partridge', as Alan might say; perhaps this is why Coogan's other characters never took off in the same way.

Alan Partridge is tasteless, ignorant, stubborn and naive.

Never has a chat show host been so vulgar and out of his depth. Coogan's

terrifically subtle facial expressions reveal every awkward crack in his character's conviction; we can see the increasing frustration and self-absorbed bitterness as he spitefully retaliates to his mocking guests.

Partridge bears the desperate face of a man who knows his television career is going to be short lived.

Often overlooked in comparison to its equally brilliant spin-off I'm Alan Partridge, Knowing Me, Knowing You is surely one of the funniest sitcoms in the history of British television. I'm Alan Partridge makes so much more sense when you see where Alan came from.

If you have only ever seen the spin-off, or if you somehow missed Partridge completely, you need to see this gem of a series. Alan certainly knew how to put the 'chat' amongst the pigeons.

Disabling TV? Annie Hodson looks into the reality behind television portrayals of disabilities Try and name characters on television that have some form of disability.

How many did you get?

Five? Ten? They're not exactly numerous, and finding characters with disabilities portrayed by actors with disabilities is trickier.

So should characters with physical or mental disabilities be portrayed by those without? Kevin McHale (Artie in Glee) doesn't use a wheelchair, and Ollie 'JJ' Barbieri from Skins does not have autism in real life. And those are the rules, not the exception.

Other than Hayley in Hollyoaks, Adam in EastEnders and Walt Jr. in Breaking Bad, there are very few television actors who share their character's disabilities.

Some argue roles, including characters with disabilities, should go to the best actor, and only considering disabled actors is singling them out for special treatment: both patronising and insulting.

On the other hand,

there are those who consider casting nondisabled actors to be the modern equivalent of blacking up. They want better opportunities for actors with disabilities who are underrepresented on television.

The problems don't stop once a disabled actor is hired: roles written for physically or mentally disabled characters tend to encompass a limited spectrum. Characters with disabilities remain on the fringes of the show, always the sidekick or guest star.

Some shows go to embarrassing lengths to demonstrate that disabled people are just like us, while others employ the Rainman cliché of character's possessing unusual skills to 'compensate' for their condition.

However the archetypes vary, there seems to be a recurrent theme: the character's life revolves around their impairment. They exist only to remind the main characters about courage,

and inspiration. Even unscripted television presents challenges; such as complaints made by parents to the BBC when Cerrie Burnell, born with one hand, took over presenting duties on CBeebies.

Those who complained claimed that their children were scared of Cerrie, oblivious to the fact that children look to their parents to guide their reactions and a calm discussion about different disabilities that would allay future fears.

There is evidence the landscape is changing: Channel 4 show Cast Offs, acted exclusively by actors with various disabilities which took an acerbic look at the media representation of physical impairments.

With the 2008 Family Resources Survey estimating the number of people living with disabilities in Britain at over ten million, isn't it about time television started to look a bit more like real life?

Feel the Burn

25

Joe McGrath looks at Fiver's latest explosive drama, Burn Notice IT'S Thursday night. Several books on literary theory are scattered across my bed. My attempts to work have stretched to opening each one to a miscellaneous page.

I feel my eyes lift longingly towards the DVD shelf, searching for a box set to absorb my roaming attention; I peruse the likes of The Sopranos, The West Wing and Dexter, all of which are, to be sure, class A contenders.

However, they have been thoroughly examined, and my wandering focus steers itself in the direction of the television remote.

After a prolonged period of searching, I finally happened upon a programme I had previously seen advertised with a large number of explosions, car chases and snappy punch-lines: Burn Notice. Surely, this would be the cure to my unremitting boredom. And, to some extent, it was.

This is the story of a

covert operative named, Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan). During the middle of an assignment, Westen is informed that there is a 'burn notice' on him. For those who are unenlightened, when an operative gets burned, he is disowned by the agency for being deemed either unreliable or unsafe. This sort of premise is classic territory for any conspiracy action-thriller.

The show opens with a shot of our protagonist in a Nigerian market place.

An engaging monologue relating the rituals of undercover work is edited over the top. Westen is wearing a beige suit, creating some unintentional irony with an appearance that is in no way covert.

However, minute flaws can be overlooked.

The more striking elements are those that reveal the true core of the show's quality. Firstly, the dialogue is sharp, intelligent and surprisingly playful. The recurring

narrations are testimony to this, allowing the writers to really flex their creative muscles.

Another great achievement of Burn Notice has to be the cinematography.

The grainy camerawork contrasts beautifully with the warm colours of Miami and Africa. The result is a glossy feel with a gritty underbelly.

Action scenes are shot frenetically, cultivating tension and captivating the viewer. This mastery of style allows the programme to weave an almost cinematic tapestry.

The audience can really get a sense of breadth in scope and potential for Burn Notice.

The one downfall that I would flag up is the central performance, by Donovan. His portrayal of Westen was erratic and unbalanced, switching from suave and charismatic in some scenes to starkly wooden in others.

If one looks at the truly memorable television programmes, they all have undeniably brilliant performances at their centre, like Martin Sheen in The West Wing and James Gandolfini in The Sopranos.

Whilst this is a very good attempt to bring the excitement of the cinema into the living room, there are still areas of improvement that need to be ironed out before Burn Notice can fulfil it's clearly vast ambitions.

Friday night without Jonathan Ross Jemma Saunders looks into what Wossy will do next...

IT may be hard to imagine a Friday night without Wossy, who has presented television and radio shows for the BBC since 1995, but this July his contract will come to an end.

In recent years he has been at the centre of several media scandals for inappropriate remarks, yet his chat show has remained extremely popular and has attracted some of the most famous faces on the planet.

But what will the rich Mr Ross do when he leaves the Beeb and is no longer interviewing celebrities? Here are a few suggestions…

Film director?

Jonathan has demonstrated a love of films during his time at the BBC so perhaps he'd like to see the industry from the other side. His desire to take charge was shown when he participated in a Comic Relief episode of The Apprentice, but then again, so was his penchant for impractical ideas…

TV Historian?

Not many people know that Jonathan has a degree in Early Modern European History, so perhaps he could bring his knowledge to the fore and become the new Tony Robinson or David Starkey. Although, it is hard to imagine him trudging around in a field wearing one of his flamboyant suits, which leads to my next proposal of…

Fashion designer?

At Live 8 in 2006, Jonathan sported a delightful mustard-yellow jacket and trousers, and he is gen-

erally renowned for his unusual styles. Undoubtedly he could create some innovative looks for the high street, but whether anyone would buy them is another matter.

After much consideration it seems all my ideas are sadly improbable, but at the end of the day it really doesn't matter.

With Jonathan Ross a household name, I'm sure we'll soon be watching him again on another mainstream channel, doing what he does best with that mixture of charm, wit and a cavalier attitude.

26 Sport

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

When Saturday comes....

Blayne Pereira talks to some of the teams who compete at weekends and finds that Birmingham success doesn't only happen on Wednesdays

AMERICAN FOOTBALL REDBRICK Sport caught up with the Lions' Craig Harris and John Zinkus to discuss how their season is going. 'We finished the regular season undefeated for the third consecutive year under the leadership of head coach Tony Athersmith, in a season which saw a much more challenging schedule, including rival games against UWE and Hertfordshire, as well as the Loughborough xpLosION game.'

Offensive-lineman Harris also comments that 'We've also been working with a large rookie contingent this year, due to many senior members finishing university last

year and it took them a couple of games to find their feet.'

Zinkus, the Team President, was also keen to give credit to the rookies, 'they are establishing themselves as key players and the execution from everyone has improved, with Ben Brown and Chika Kalu becoming key offensive players and Will Watkiss and Paul Zinkus performing well on the defensive side.'

When it comes to results, the Lions have annihilated almost every team they have faced this season. They have been led, once again, by the outstanding Tristan Varney

at QB, with Kyle Burrows and BB also making waves on defence.

They have outscored opponents 334-44; including three shut-outs.

These statistics could have been even more impressive had it not been for the Buckinghamshire game being awarded as a walk-over. The Lions then cruised past Bristol in the first round of the playoffs 52-6 last Sunday and are now just three games away from another perfect season. The Birmingham boys will be hoping to live up to their growing reputation in a rematch against UWE to be player at Metchley on March 28th.

SAILING AS we all head back outdoors for summer, water sports will be back in the public eye, but sailing has been going on throughout the winter. Lincoln Smith, of the University of Birmingham Sailing Club, discussed the ups and downs

of their season, 'Team racing involves having to combine speed, control and manoeuvrability and, this year, our club decided to enter three teams into the BUSA (British University Sailing Association) Competition: a firsts, sec-

onds, and ladies', team.

The firsts and seconds attended the regional qualifiers at Draycote Water (Warwick) in early February. The seconds won four of their fourteen races for 11th overall, while the firsts were edged out

in qualification, finishing sixth out of fourteen, with the top five making the play-offs.'

There was better news for the women; they will be competing in the finals at Chew Valley Sailing Club in Bristol next month. In

other news, Anna Mackenzie & Matt Laband came 19th out of 43 in the BUCS National Fleet Racing Championships in October (fleet racing focuses purely on speed). 'Our club has also hosted two of our own events includ-

ing the hugely successful annual KPMG Brummy Bender, which saw over 15 teams compete, and we're looking to expand to 21 teams for next year. We also held the BUSA Team Racing play-offs in early March.'

Rhys Crilley finishing second and third respectively. In the National Collegiates, the two teams from Brumski locked out the top two spots in a stunning performance; while the Ladies' 1st team finished third in their competition.

In the individual slalom competition, Simon Jones

(team captain) finished 3rd in the men's tournament while Redmore finished 2nd in the women's with team-mate Ellie Nicholson-Thomas one place further back in another double-podium performance. The freestyle results in the Collegiates were nothing short of jaw-

dropping: Dave Compton, Crilley and Jones locked out the podium in the men's boarding, while Redmore, Sarah Murtagh and Sarah Logsdail did the same in the women's competition. Ashley Elliot, Adam Newcombe and Jim Rosser filled the podium in the men's freestyle-ski-

ing, while Caroline Thomas and Rachel Bill came second and third in the women's competition.

The three teams from Birmingham also feature in the top five in the Kings Races (including top spot), while the skiers are second in both their competitions.

TAEKWONDO JONNY Price, the Taekwondo team captain, gave Redbrick Sport the lowdown on their impressive exploits this year, 'We only compete in a few tournaments over the year because of the demanding nature of the sport and we've only competed in two tournaments this year' (A third competition was postponed).

Price continued and told us about his team's impressive show last Autumn, 'In November, we finished second overall in a tournament held in Cambridge, losing narrowly to Kingston University. We then went to the national competition in Aylesbury earlier this month (British Student Taekwondo Federation, BSTF), where we again came up just short, losing out to Southampton University.'

This most recent competition saw the team bring back a superb haul

of 21 medals, comprising of 9 gold, 7 silver, and 10 bronze.

Price was also keen to give credit to Kiran Basra (vice-captain) who has obtained two gold medals and a silver this year.

The captain also acknowledged the achievements of the Nono brothers, Steve (two golds) and Boris (two silvers).

'There have been many more impressive performances, including Robert Banham, who found himself facing a Commonwealth Silver medalist in his final, losing by a respectable scoreline of 2-4.

Price was clearly proud of his team and with good reason. He commented on how the team has gone from strength to strength this year. Having previously faced serious problems, this team is now regarded as the best in University history.

BRUMSKI LAST, but by no means least, is the racing team from Brumski; who have attained a wealth of success through their season.

Earlier this month, during the British University Indoor Snow Championships, Stephen DuPlessis finished 3rd overall in the individual ski competition

while Rowan Springfield finished runner-up in the individual snowboard event, an event which also saw Elly Redmore and Stephen Shawmarsh-Smith achieve top-15 finishes.

There was even more success in the freestyle snowboarding competition, with Doug Johnson and

Sport

REDBRICK 1370 / 17th March 2010

27

Northampton nullified as seconds run riot at Metchley Women's Lacrosse 2nd: Birmingham v Northampton 24 – 6 Blayne Pereira LESS than a week after the 1st team became National Champions at the BUCS Championships, the focus was on the women's lacrosse 2nd team as they hosted the 1st team from the University of Northampton.

Birmingham were favourites for the game, sitting third in the league (5-2) with the visitors second-bottom (3-6) and having also won

the reverse fixture 17-6 in November. Despite this, 1st team coach Dave Albini was keen to play down the expectations, 'they were very aggressive last time they played us and our team has significantly changed recently.'

Despite this, the hosts got off to a fast start thanks to Georgia Layton, bombarding visiting keeper Becky Marsh before Emily Hughes and Megan Roberts went close.

Layton made it 2-0 before Fiona Stohrer ran clean through from the restart to pull a goal back and with momentum changing hands, Holly Goode quickly levelled it up. Sophie Baird put Birmingham 3-2 up before the inspirational Stohrer repeated her earlier quick reply, smashing home a fine shot past Gemma Coburn-Ramsey from a very tight angle, having initially looked

like she had taken the ball too far. Northampton then incredibly took the lead thanks to Trish Seidl but that was as good as it got for them and Hughes made the score 4-4 as the first quarter came to a close.

Birmingham finally managed to edge away in what was a very scrappy first half. Hughes scored a quick-fire brace to complete her hat-trick before Seidl netted her second to narrow the gap to 6-5.

What happened next only went to prove how strong lacrosse is at our university, as the girls went on a scintillating run of 18 consecutive goals, with Joss Drabble, Lizzie Mawston and Hughes all finding the back of the net before the half (9-5).

The second half was, clearly, a very one-sided affair. Drabble completed another Brum hat-trick

with two early goals, thanks to some fine work from Olivia Clayton and Keri Farrow; and Baird, Megan Lister, Suzie Cobb and Layton made it 15-5 as the third quarter came to an end.

The onslaught continued into the final quarter which saw some more fine team goals with Layton, Baird and Mawston all contributing. Baird scored a final quarter hat-trick to take her tally to five, the same amount of goals scored by Layton, while Mawston completed a trio as well. Sara Shine added her name to the scoresheet before Northampton had the last say, with Seidl making it 24-6.

After the game, club co-captain Ellie Sayers commented, 'It's good to have a strong comeback win after the Nottingham game. The defence also scored a few good goals

Photo: Lucy Percival

A Birmingham player demonstrates the determination for which Brum have become known today to show how strong the depth of our squad is.'

Indeed, the performance showed that the depth of

the lacrosse club does not just lie with the first team; even the 2nd team can cut it at the highest level.

Dixie's chicks continue with promotion push Women's Tennis 1st: Birmingham v St Andrews 8–2 Edward Conlon AN assured 8-2 victory over St Andrews gave the University of Birmingham Women's Tennis 1st team high hopes of securing promotion to the Northern Premier Conference.

In a match consisting

W

of two doubles games and four singles, the hosts put in a consistent performance throughout against their opponents who had made the long trip down from Scotland.

St Andrews put in a protest note prior to the game in relation to what they saw as insufficient indoor playing time being available. However, in the end it did not become an issue as Birmingham convincingly dispatched their rivals in a hard fought affair.

After beating Leeds Met Carnegie's 2nd team last week, the Scottish side came to Birmingham knowing that a victory was likely to secure promotion. But the home side

knew a good result at the Priory Club would be vital for their own promotion effort and they began the match strongly.

Birmingham's Laura Gilbert and Kerry Smith started proceedings with a comfortable 8-0 victory against Caroline McCulloch and Laura Gardner. Despite the score line there were many closely fought exchanges but the hosts' power and patience proved to be decisive.

At the same time home captain, Faye Dixie, and partner, Marina Lavarello, took on Lucie Turznikova and Catherine Phelps. Both sides hit the ball cleanly in a game full of long rallies which saw Birmingham break serve

twice. After a tiring affair, the hosts eventually wrapped the game up to win 8-6 and give them a two point advantage overall.

With a positive start Birmingham looked to build on this foundation with strong performances in the singles. Home rank number one, Gilbert, faced McCulloch while number two, Dixie, took on Gardner. Meanwhile St Andrews captain, Ashley Rath, went up against Smith on a different court.

In similar fashion to her doubles game, Gilbert displayed some power from the base line forcing McCulloch into making several errors. Although some long points were

played out, Gilbert took the first set 6-2.

The Scot continued to put up a good fight but the home number one soon triumphed 6-0 in the second set to secure a four point lead overall.

It was a different story on the next court where St Andrews' Gardner took the first set 6-3, showing some hard hitting from the base line and good volleying from the net. However, Dixie fought back well and soon tied the game by racing to a 6-0 victory in the second.

Taking this momentum into the final set, Dixie kept a cool head and, despite her opponent never giving in, finally took the match by winning 6-2.

=the===redbrick==crossword= Mordo Nahum

Redbrick 1370

1_2_3_4_5=6_7 _=_=_=_=_=_=_ 8____________ _=_=_=_=_=_=_ 9________=_=_ ==_===_=_=_=_ 0___a_=b_____ _=_=_=c===_== _=_=d___e___f _=_=_=_=_=_=_ g____________ _=_=_=_=_=_=_ h__=i________

Sponsored by Waterstone's at the University of Birmingham This week's bumper prize is a copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and a £10 Waterstone's voucher

Across

Down

1. Hugely popular puzzle game (9) 6. Serious injury (1, 1, 1) 8. Victor Hugo novel that was successfully adapted into a musical (3, 10) 9. Right-hand man (9) 10. Former Cuban president (6) 12. Rioted (anag) (6) 14. Whale/large sea creature (9) 17. Indie band who received a Mercury Prize nomination in 2009 (8, 5) 18. Affirmative (3) 19. Young plants (9)

1. _____ Swan, protagonist of Twilight (5) 2. Collection of tales by Rudyard Kipling (4, 2, 7) 3. Tom _____, grizzly-voiced musician and actor (5) 4. Freedom or flexibility (in a decision) (6) 5. Conscripted (7) 6. American musician who in 2010 released I'm New Here, his first album for 16 years (3, 5, 5) 7. 2006 song by Simian Mobile Disco (7) 10. Especially (7) 11. Gives in (7) 13. Adapt gradually (6) 15. Horrid, appalling (5) 16. Cautiously advances (5)

As Birmingham's Smith also defeated Rath 6-2, 6-0, the hosts now had an unassailable 8-point lead with one game remaining.

In the remaining dead rubber match, Lavarello faced a determined looking Turznikova who put in an impressive performance despite overall victory being impossible. She salvaged two points for St Andrews by winning 7-5, 6-0.

Birmingham will be happy with their victory: captain Dixie commented that, 'after today's performance we look set for promotion, fingers crossed.'

Leeds Metropolitan 2nds now provide the final obstacle to the Northern Premier Conference.

Last issue's solutions:

=hypothesis== =o=r=h=l=n=n= solitude=glee =k=v=d=c=l=w= =exam=atheism ===t=s=r===o= =creationism= =l===r=n=c=== martian=gene= =r=a=i=a=b=n= skin=nintendo =e=g=e=t=r=o= ==golddigger= Think you've cracked it? Pop your completed crosswords (and bribes, naturally) in to the Redbrick office with your NAME, COURSE, YEAR and EMAIL ADDRESS for a chance to win a copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and a £10 voucher from the University's Waterstone's branch.

The deadline for entries is Tuesday 23rd March 2010.

Last issue's winner was Nick Day, 1st Year, Sport Science. We will email you to arrange a time to collect your prize.

28 Sport

REDBRICK 1370 / 19th MARCH 2010

SPORT

27 Lacrosse Women's 2nds show they can win with class

Edge hat-trick buries BCU

26 Saturday Sports American Football, Sailing, Taekwondo and Brumski

Birmingham hockey club deny spiteful Durham allegations James Phillips

Derby day destruction at the Munrow Track Pitch

Photos: Tom Flathers

Men's football 2nd: Birmingham v B.C.U 5-1 Stuart Young THE University of Birmingham's men's 2nd team finished their season on a high today with a compelling 5-1 victory over local rivals Birmingham City University's 1st team. The most notable performance of the game came from Birmingham's impressive centre forward, Nick Edge, who scored a hat-trick within 70 minutes before being substituted.

Both teams employed a traditional 4-4-2 formation and in the early exchanges the centre forwards on both teams failed to make an impact.

As both teams played with high defensive lines the midfield at times became congested. It was particularly difficult for Birmingham forward Tony Boto, who was forced to come deep to collect the ball with his back to goal.

Hence, the first twenty minutes only provided a handful of half chances for both sides, despite some accurate and quick passing, particularly from the home team. Gradually

as the half progressed however, the Birmingham wingers began to penetrate the BCU defence culminating in more clearcut opportunities.

The first goal of the game came on the half hour mark. Having turned the BCU centre back, Boto got to the by-line before cutting the ball back for Patrick Odling to score from 12 yards. Odling calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the net having broken into the penalty area

from midfield.

Birmingham's second goal came less than ten minutes later, following a mistake in the BCU defence. After a deep cross from the right wing was misjudged by the away side's soaring centre back, the ball was knocked down to Edge in the penalty area, who scuffed a right-footed shot past the keeper at the near post.

It was down the left wing though that Birmingham looked most dangerous throughout the half.

Nick Edge wheels away in celebration of one of his three goals

Left-winger George Wilson was by far the most skilful player constantly cutting back inside onto his stronger right foot.

He was supported well

by Charlie Robinson, who provided a solid first half performance at left back.

In the second half however, Wilson was switched to the right wing as Birmingham made a slight re-shuffle following a substitution. He appeared to have as much success down the right as he did down the left, constantly luring the defender to dive into challenges before knocking it around him or through his legs.

Home striker Edge scored two goals in five minutes to seal his hattrick halfway through the second half. His second goal was a smart flick at the near post having got across his man, while his third capped the best move of the match. A ball was threaded through to Boto from the edge of the penalty area, before he fired the ball across the face of the goal for Edge to deflect into the top of the net. Although BCU did pull one back soon after to make it 4-1, the rout was complete in the 75th minute when Boto scored a well deserved goal following confusion in the BCU defence from another hanging cross.

Overall it was a fine performance and a fitting way to end the season with the team finishing nine points ahead of their opponents in the final league table.

BIRMINGHAM'S hockey club has been left reeling from slanderous claims by the University of Durham relating to the crowd behaviour in the Men's 2nd team semi-final at Bournbrook two weeks ago which saw the visitors eliminated. The club are now facing a ÂŁ1,000 fine and a suspended two-year sentence which, if instigated, would result in the hockey 4th teams being removed from their respective leagues.

Earlier this week, Redbrick Sport met with club captain Richard Thom and chairman Alistair Stewart who explained that Durham told governing body BUCS that the crowd threw alcoholic beverages onto the pitch, shouted racist abuse at one of the umpires and invaded the pitch at the end of the game.

While admitting there was some bad language from the crowd, Birmingham are strenuously denying all the other claims and insist there was no wrongdoing. Thom and Stewart stated, 'We're not happy that Durham have gone straight to BUCS, instead of consulting us, which is normal practice between universities.

There was no animosity from the players after the game so we were quite baffled really'.

They also insisted that the umpire in question has been employed at Birmingham many

times before and has never been targeted by racist abuse. Redbrick reporter Patrick Surlis who covered the game said, 'I didn't see or hear anything that I deemed particularly nasty'.

The club are hoping that the umpire's report will back them up and that the sentence will be withdrawn but UB Sport have already been forced to pay the fine up front.

This means that the club will have to make the money back and the only feasible way of doing this is by increasing next year's membership fees.

Obviously this means that all hockey players, male and female will have to pay extra next year, this seems unfair but as Stewart explains, 'there were lots of supporters at the game, mostly unconnected to the club, but the fine has to be paid by the club.'

It is believed that the Durham 2nd team coaching staff made the allegations, led by former Birmingham player Michael Boal.

A possible motive was to ban Birmingham fans from travelling to the BUCS women's championship final in Sheffield last week, where Durham were the opposition. However, the fans were allowed to travel to the venue and did so in numbers. In full voice, they cheered on the women's 1st team to a comprehensive 3-1 victory, so even if the fine stands, Birmingham had the last laugh.

Well-behaved Birmingham fans celebrate women's final victory over Durham

Online Exclusive: The women's rugby team sail into semi-final after smashing Sterling. Read Georgina Killick's full match report at www.redbrickonline.co.uk